Ironic Mom, a.k.a. Leanne Shirtliffe, is mother to seven-year-old twins, William and Vivian, who provide more entertainment than Cirque du Soleil on speed. Leanne sometimes refers to her children as Thing 1 and Thing 2 or You and The Other One.
To escape from her kids, Leanne teaches junior high and finds that dealing with ninety-seven teenagers is often easier than being trapped in a house with her own spawn.
Leanne lived in Asia for eight years, which turned out to be a build-your-own-family adventure. She met her husband in Bahrain, and they had twins while living in Bangkok. She and her husband used to travel.
To read more on how her parenting ideals have been shattered, check out her essay, So Much for My Kid Commandments, published in The Globe and Mail. Links to the humour columns she writes for The Calgary Herald and other websites/publications can be found here.
Leanne is represented by Jill Marr of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency in California. Jill is currently shopping Leanne’s humour/parenting manuscript, tentatively titled Get That Train Off Your Penis: Things I Never Thought I’d Say As a Parent.
Leanne also co-created the writing blog, Wordbitches, with her two writing pals, Elena and Trish.
Leanne’s latest project is StuffKidsWrite.com, where she and funny man Chase McFadden publish humorous writing that kids do. The motto says it all: “Like Stuff Adults Write. But Funnier.”
If it’s bizarre facts you’re interested in, you can check out Getting To Know Canadian Bloggers – Leanne, 7 Things I’m Admitting in Public or Resident of Awesometown #10 – Leanne Shirtliffe.
You can reach Leanne at IronicMom [at] gmail [dot] com or follow her on Twitter @LShirtliffe.
Just heard about your delightful blogs this morning, talking to Patricia Malina at church. They were visiting Ottawa for Winterlude.
TS
As a mother of boy-girl twins, I so relate to the stupid, impossibly invasive questions. Stupid Question #9993: Will you deliver them naturally?
I enjoyed your recent article. Like other writings you have done, the topics are so true and remind me well of the good days experienced with my kids when they were younger. We learn.
I don’t find too many writers that instantly suck me in for good, but I think I’ve found one here. You’re really gifted and I can’t wait to read more. You may just have to go on the old blogroll. Congrats on some great work.
My children may as well be twins as they are just shy of 13 months apart. I have just discovered your blog and have thus far found it very entertainng
I liked your 10 Commandments article – very clever and so true. Keep it up!
Hi Leanne:
I’m adding some new folks to my blogroll tomorrow in honour of my one year “blogiversary.” Is it okay if I add you to “She Said”? Thanks.
Wendy
I’d be honoured, Wendy. Thanks! And happy blogiversary!
Thanks, Leanne! Done!
Thanks to Wendy (writerwoman61), I have now “discovered” your blog. Awesome, awesome, awesome. I love it and your extremely funny wit. Your a writer after my own heart. And now I’m a subscriber! Btw, love your choice of photo. Someone needs to write a caption for it. Perhaps have a contest? Thanks for making my day.
Thanks! I think your idea of a caption contest is a brilliant one. I may steal that (and credit you!)
Hi Leanne,
your blog is very funny.
You’re invited to peek into my tin box: http://parolesemplici.wordpress.com/mytinbox/
bye
Thanks, Jose. I’m late at replying (the story of my life), but I’ll be by to visit!
many thanks happy easter
Greetings and congratulations!
Just wanted you to know, I’ve just bestowed upon you the Kreativ Blogger Award. You can visit my blog to see why!
I will. Thanks so much!
Hi Leanne, I just red your article at Problogger and so I landed here on your fantastic blog, just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article, of course because I love Shakespere and I found that an excellent idea for article about blogging. Best regards!
Thanks so much, Sandra. It’s great to meet another Bard lover!
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Enjoyed ready your article on Chase McFadden’s Blog today! I was born in Calgary and spent the first 8 years of my life there – still have very fond memories
Hi Cindy! You were born in Calgary? Too cool. And speaking of cool, Chase is all that, too!
I’m not sure how I stumbled across your website but I did and here I am hehe. You write some interesting stuff. I am doubtful as to whether you remember me. I was in your homeroom (was it called homeroom? Something along those lines) at NIST, Bangkok when I was in Year 7 (1999 or 2000). Just wanted to say hi. (I think everyone used to called me Meetu back then).
Mithul! I recognized your name before you even introduced yourself. I do remember you, though I suspect you’ve changed a lot. What are you doing now? Feel free to send me an email: ironicmom(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks for taking the time to leave a message!
Hi there! Me again!
I just wanted to let you know that you are fabulous and that as way to show it I’m nominating you for a “Lovely Blog Award” and “The Versatile Blog Award”. (You can grab the logo’s from my blog)
If you have already received something like this or prefer not to participate its ok. I wont be offended.
I just want to let you know and others know that I love your blog.
The rules for acceptance are:
1. Choose five (or more) other people who deserve this award and pass it on.
2. Tell 7 facts about yourself.
3. Let the people you gave the award to know.
4. Thank the person who gave you the award.
Have a fabulous day hun!
Yasmin
I can barely handle my one six-year-old, nevermind 2. You are my hero.
I love your blog!
Hello. Found you in a round about way and now I’m subscribing.
Yay. Thanks!
I read your comments in the Herald regarding school supply shopping and it is clear that you see only a mother’s side to school. As for the number of pencils and erasers to purchase, how many times do you think your own children don’t put their supplies away where they should be??? I recommend that you spend some time researching multiple intelligences and how children learn instead of having such a one sided opinion of learning – maybe then you’ll know why your children require so many glue sticks. If it is so hard for you to understand what teachers are requesting for supplies, may I suggest you home school your own children!
Hey dingbat, Leanne IS a teacher. You must be an educational administrator. I recommend that you sniff more glue sticks and loosen up. If it’s so hard for you to understand satire I suggest you stop reading humour columns.
Ohmyfrickin’ hilarious! Who understands this better than teachers AND mothers of duplicates. Or duos. Oh, you know what I mean.
Congrats on your “hater.” You have made it, ladybug!
Whoa.
Oh how I love the irony of this comment. And I also love you, Leanne. And also maybe glue sticks.
So really?
This day is perfection.
XO
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Thud. *Falls hopelessly in love with Clay*
What Liz said.
Just stumbled on your blog from ByranAllain.com. Love It. I just starred you. Look forward to reading more. I (actually We..my wife must share the blame) have twins too. 9 year old boys. I may just read your site to commiserate.
You’ve made it two more years than we have, Keith. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
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love this! i literally laughed out loud reading your santa-failure post! love it!
I have been enjoying your blog and I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. The piece about the twins was awesome…my daughter had twins a couple of years ago. My link is http://thomag2.wordpress.com Have a great year.
tom
Thanks so much for the postcard.. Love the cactus! I’m trying to figure out how to get my students into their new “lovingkindness pose” . Think it might take having those extra Indian goddess arms…
Leanne – you have to check out this link: http://www.bentonbetterlunches.com/2012/02/do-you-like-green-eggs-ham.html
THis is a blog I follow – a woman that makes bento box lunches for her kids each day and blogs about them – this latest post you will love. In honour of Dr. Seuss and Thing One and Thing Two!
Cheers ~ Jenny
I just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award — I’m guessing maybe not for the first time but I’m too lazy to research it… http://bluegrassnotes.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/versatile-blogger-award-and-sunshine-award-yeah/
I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award
I didn’t realize you were already nominated this month!
http://mydailycreativity.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/day-136-i-am-honored-to-be-a-versatile-blogger/
Well I also have twins and a couple singletons( a few years ago, I would never have used this word) and yes, life is crazy.
I am the mother of twins and a couple of singletons( a word that a few years ago I would have never used) and yes life is crazy.
You’ve had me since your top ten bad toys list of 2011: http://lifeyum.com/2011/11/22/i-love-twisted-humor/, and now I finally have the opportunity to show you a little appreciation. Here’s one more deserving award, http://lifeyum.com/2012/04/24/inspired-by-the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/. Humor is so key to living a good life, especially as a parent. Thank you for helping me (and thousands) lighten up during some down days.