Parenting

We had a yard sale last week. A grandmother bought a bunch of furniture from us as she had family moving in. She said she would be back to haul it away. We were surprised to see her turn up in a two door convertible and even more surprised when she crammed computer tables and ... Continue Reading »

Marianne Williamson said- “When a woman gives birth, two are born; a baby from the womb of its mother and a woman from the womb of her former existence.” Being a mother, in all its humanity, joy and frustration, is ultimately a celebration of a new you. You will never be the same after all ... Continue Reading »

I go through my day pretty much convinced I’m in my 20’s. I am not. It appears my mind seems a little stubborn, hiding in timeless fantasies, too busy frolicking in fountains of eternal youth, to remember what year it actually is. My body thinks this is an odd thing for my mind to think, ... Continue Reading »

Bit different? Speak with a lisp, or like to read? Long nose, big lips, small ears, weird name, wrong shoes, no dad, no fun, too serious, too dumb, too tall, too short too, too, too- just too something. There is always Something. too loud, too popular, too shy too, too healthy. Can you sing? Shut ... Continue Reading »

Pick kids up from school- Check. Race over to health shop to get lemons, chia seeds, random health stuff and an afterschool on-the-run snack. Check. Hot-foot it to another school a few kilometers away, wander about an empty school trying to find the gym to sign up for a sport program that was in fact ... Continue Reading »

Author and creativity expert, Julia Cameron, said, The face of love is variable. I am able to love without demanding that my relationships assume the structures and forms I might choose for them. My love is fluid, flexible, committed, creative. My love allows people and events to unfold as they need. My love is not ... Continue Reading »

Simple really. Just notes. Notes tucked into books. His idea, all his. An afternoon of errands. Dull, boring, mindless endless jobs “Just running in” He waited in the car with his thoughts. “Right, library next’ I bustle checking things off. Not quite done. He sat with scraps of paper on his lap. Notes to somebody. ... Continue Reading »

I’ve never been good at math. All those questions about trains going certain speeds reaching destinations at 11:29am, then asking how many passengers ate peanut butter sandwiches between point A and Tz. Or the endless questions about triangles – they have 3 sides people!!!  Isn’t that all I need to know? So what hope is ... Continue Reading »

My study is upstairs. Across from his room. His too busy with life room. Flung with rushing to the next thing room. The barely home room. Clothes too busy to pick up. A notice board with thick wads of paper, pay stubs and college forms. And then there is his music. His eclectic collection from ... Continue Reading »

Toe pointed toward the floor. Fingers soft, waiting. She thinks nobody is watching. She is wrong. She thinks she is alone to just try, give it a go. She is not. I spy from the kitchen doorway, glancing up occasionally trying not to be seen. The dial is turned louder, the music now bigger filling ... Continue Reading »

The best legacy a parent can leave is self acceptance. Teach your sons that size and speed may matter, but depth matters even more. Remind them that they are accepted just as they are. Teach your daughters that diversity is beautiful and beauty is diverse and that they are beautiful and completely accepted just as ... Continue Reading »

I find myself reflective this Father’s Day as I prepare to send my oldest son off to College.  How do you say goodbye to your own flesh and blood and send them out into the big bad world? My mind wanders through eighteen years of intimate connection. No wonder it’s hard to let go. I ... Continue Reading »

Happy Father’s Day. Here’s to all fathers and the fatherly heart in all – fathers, grandfathers, uncles, coaches, big brother mentors and all people who take seriously your role in guiding the next generation of young lives. Be the best person you can be. The true measure of your life and your family is not ... Continue Reading »

He always wanted to explain things. But no one cared. So he drew. He wanted to carve it in stone or write it in the sky. And it would BE the sky and things inside him that needed saying. It was a beautiful picture. He kept it under his pillow and would let no one ... Continue Reading »

FREEZE – I wanted to scream. JUST STOP RIGHT THERE I was ready to yell. But didn’t. Instead, I breathed as much of it in as possible. A moment, an image, a gift. I stood in complete silence, fully present and totally grateful. A second or two later and it was gone. Poof- done. She, ... Continue Reading »