Articles written by Megan Bayliss

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About me - Megan Bayliss

I'm a mother of four and live in beautiful, tropical Cairns, Queensland, Australia. I adore sunshine, colour and the spectacular variety that occurs when rainforest meets ocean.

A Social Worker by career, I have devoted my professional, personal and ethical

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Creative Writing > Essays Essays: The passing of loved ones: 3 of 54
When the phone rang so early, I knew that something was wrong. The salute sobs signed the contract of knowing. I listened with motherly instincts to the sobbing intonations, the breathing and the corrupted attempts at forced air. It was my foster daughter. Although now out of the care of the state and living independently, sh... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Saturday night: 2 of 25
One unsuspecting, child focused, Saturday night was all that was required to finish what the laws of the land could not: him. Just that one night, and it would be all over. She hated that she worked in the same building as him. Having to even walk the ground he may have trod turned her stomach. At first, she had been reduced ... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Fun and funk: 2 of 22
"The tall skinny man with the bright patched trousers hiding knobby hairy knees swung his spindly arms and whistled his signature as he tipped his luminous green top hat to everything he passed.Fence posts, frogs, babies in prams, and dawdling granddads all received the same top hat whistling greeting. On at least one occasio... More..
Arts & Humanities > Children's Literature Are children books providing them with enough advice?: 1 of 10
Are books providing children with enough advice? This complex question requires active adult involvement to be able to answer yes, books are providing children with enough advice'.The process of providing advice through books is called bibliotherapy. While self-help books, with structured steps for life improvement, are a for... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: The Sacrifice: 1 of 7
The old woman across the road never receives visitors anymore. Her once beautiful manor now stands as a sacrifice to the elements: unkempt, unloved and haunted. I know this because 34 years ago, when I was but a kid, I used to sit beneath our huge mango tree to watch the sophisticated "beautiful set," arrive for the exclusive... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Me, myself & men: 8 of 42
"She threw her head back and laughed like a hyena. The hairs on her hunched back were raised and her talon sharp nails glowed on the ends of her bony, arched, fingers as she dipped his manhood into impermeable acid."Annoyed that it wasn't me who had thought of such a marvelous piece of foreplay with my men, I rushed her to co... More..
Relationships & Family > Tips for Marital Happiness Marriage and debts: 1 of 5
Personal debt is all too common. When two personal debts meet, fall in love and marry, they share their companionship, their dreams, their space and often their individual debts incurred before entering the marriage. Amalgamation of multiple and individual debts into one is the chosen method of debt reduction for many couples... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Preparations for first book-signing experience: 2 of 8
The following tips are worthy of thought during preparation for your first book signing:Know your market: Who will come to your book signing? What is the best time of day for them? What type of background and surrounds will assist them to buy a book for you to sign? I held a book signing of my children's book without thinking... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Self-Awareness & Realization Being self-assertive and autonomous: 4 of 14
Being self-assertive relies upon having clear communication skills, a degree of emotional intelligence and a workable knowledge about who you are, what you want and where your personal boundaries are.The formula for clear communication is:A (affect) I feel,B (behavior) when you,C (cognitions) because.While the formula for cle... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short Stories: Jake: 10 of 33
Jake and I made a conscious choice to play only educational games with our son and daughter. It was easy because play is children's work and every game is educational. We often make up our own games, directed by Julia and Stanley's needs at the time. Jake is an Occupational Therapist, on extended sick leave. Despite his illne... More..