In her acceptance speech, the woman at the awards ceremony said her child once asked when she was going to learn how to cook. Her answer was never. The audience laughed appreciatively. I sat, cringing. I taught myself to cook. On purpose. Not because I like to cook, but because I have children. Which is why I will never win an award for anything.

You don’t get a lifetime achievement award for baking bread. People eat it, but it doesn’t make very good conversation.

I get up and start the water for a second cup of tea. While I wait for the water to boil I put my head down to the floor, stretch the backs of my legs and think: somehow we have to get you to stop running away from the work.