Last week my sister sent me a text to ask what our girls want for Christmas. I hadn’t thought about it much—except for wanting to replace their overpriced watches from last year (looked great but didn’t last) or get them new undies while they’re on sale. Is underwear a good gift for kids aged six and eight?… I guess not. Which is why I passed the question on to my kids.
She looked up at the painting, brows furrowed with disbelief making it clear she didn’t agree with my admiration for the piece hanging on the wall.
“That’s not art!”
She was only five but already our world had begun to shape her perception of what was worthy to be deemed ‘art’ : an image that reflected perfection and accuracy.
This was the first time her perception had been challenged. Continue reading
Change was imminent. As the day approached, peace diminished as every spare minute was increasingly filled with podcasts, books, questions and conversations. The hope was that in the pursuit, a particular pearl of wisdom would be discovered and administered to the growing symptoms of uncertainty. Continue reading
As I pushed my girls on the swings at the park recently, I overheard a conversation between two parents discussing the latest indoor play centre. They were planning to take their kids. It would be so much fun. Expensive but fun. I was struck by the irony of taking the kids to the park but becoming too busy planning more adventures to stop and play. Continue reading
I am not in control. Life happens, children happen, much of this happening includes mess and extra work. Sometimes these happenings conflict with my plans and I fight to regain control, it’s control I never had. Continue reading
Recently my gorgeous little two-year-old Selah decided that she didn’t like being left at her usual drop-offs. Each visit to daycare, kids church or time with family resulted in an awkward wrestle with me trying to pry her little arms and legs off me as she screamed: “No, mummy, no!”