Thalia Kehoe Rowden

Thalia Kehoe Rowden is a former Baptist minister and current mother and development worker. She writes about parenting, social justice and spirituality at Sacraparental.com. Thalia was born in Palmerston North in 1977.

Society
Feb 21, 2018

A meal out could kill my husband. Why do so few restaurants seem to care?

Tens of thousands of New Zealanders have serious food allergies, and hundreds are hospitalised each year, often because hospitality staff have mistakenly served them something they’re allergic to. A new law was supposed to stop that happening – so why has so little changed?

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Parents
Aug 5, 2017

A future with mothers in the House?

Thalia Kehoe Rowden imagines a future where we have mothers of young children and babies in Parliament. What a world it could be...

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Parents
Jul 12, 2017

Three mums, six kids, and one award-winning self-published book: The story of Little Gems

In Tibet babies are named by a respected elder. In Borneo, turtles are kept out of the birthing room, and the Gusii women of East Africa paint their breasts with bitter herbs when they’re ready to wean. Thalia Kehoe Rowden learned all of this and more from a beautiful new book, Little Gems, produced by a trio of Kiwi mums. She tracked them down to find out how they managed such a feat.

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Parents
Jul 3, 2017

The Tiger Who Came To Tea: A true story

The Tiger Who Came To Tea was first published in 1968. Written and illustrated by Judith Kerr, the classic picture book has long been ripe for a satirical re-write. Thanks to Thalia Kehoe Rowden, we have just that.

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Books
Jun 27, 2017

Māori (and Pasifika) writing in 2017: Thalia Kehoe Rowden recommends 22 picture books that feature Pasifika and Māori children

Thalia Kehoe Rowden tracks down 22 picture books which actually reflect the New Zealand of today.

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Parents
Jun 1, 2017

What’s wrong with having boys’ toys and girls’ toys?

When a Tokoroa mum queried McDonald's gendered Happy Meal toys, the Facebook response was huge – and vitriolic. Depressing enough, but do kids really need different toys based on their gender? All signs point to no, says Thalia Kehoe Rowden.

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Books
Apr 26, 2017

Why do so few of the best New Zealand picture books for kids have characters who are girls, Māori, or Pasifika?

Thalia Kehoe Rowden finds a lot of great reads in the Storylines selection of the best picture books for young kids - but wonders why the hell it is in this day and age that so few authors write about girls, or Maori, or Pasifika.

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Parents
Mar 31, 2017

‘I’m going to stop you there’ and other conversational comebacks to protect your pregnant soul

Every pregnant person has struggled with unsolicited advice and comments on their body. Spinoff Parents columnist and mum of two Thalia Kehoe Rowden has tips and ways to reply to well-meaning strangers who are overstepping or oversharing.

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Parents
Dec 22, 2016

There’s a God in our Christmas: One mother on the role of religion in her family’s festive celebrations

Every family celebrates Christmas in their own way. This week we're hearing from families around New Zealand explaining what they celebrate and why they do. Thalia Kehoe Rowden, a former Baptist minister, and a mother of two writes about why God is part of her Christmas.

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Parents
Oct 25, 2016

Think Big for Kids: 5 big ideas (and a few dozen more) to protect children and support families

Experts agree: improving the welfare of our children - especially the most vulnerable - would bring huge social benefits, not least among them a drastic decrease in crime. So what are the fixes? And what's stopping us? Thalia Kehoe Rowden has some suggestions.

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