About Me — Barb Dalton
Nurse. Teacher. Crafter. Photographer. Canadian; I am a woman who wears many hats, but what defines me the most is being a New Zealander and a mother.
“Why on earth did you leave New Zealand?”
This is often the first question I am asked after the inevitable clarification of where my accent is from — usually confused with being English or Australian; even after almost 28 years living in Canada, I can’t shake the twang!
I came to Montréal with my husband and 5-month-old daughter, Hannah, on a one-year contract for his new job.
Well, that one year has turned into a life sentence. We produced another two kids and subsequently divorced, but this is now home to me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be living on the other side of the world, but here I am.
The early years
I grew up in small-town New Zealand at the bottom of the country, often referred to by other Kiwis’ as part of the anatomy involving elimination.
We lived modestly; my Dad was a French and Latin teacher at one of the local boys’ high schools, and my Mum a bank teller. I had a wonderful childhood and have many fond memories of it, especially lining my teddies up in the garage after school and doing my homework by teaching them what I had learned in class that day.
I wanted to be a teacher — but didn’t end up fulfilling this dream until ten years ago.
The reason I went into nursing was for all the wrong ones. Being the family’s baby, I had watched my brother and sister struggle as they moved 2 ½ hours away to university. I decided I liked being at home with Mum and Dad — especially as I had everything at my disposal.
As soon as I graduated, I moved to Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand at the other end of the country. As a Registered Nurse, I frequently moved around different hospitals and care units to gain broad nursing exposure.
I am so thankful that I did, as it has helped me enormously now as a nursing instructor.
From New Zealand to Canada
Fast forward to October 1995 when we landed in Montréal. It was just in time for winter — and the referendum; Québec’s attempt at separating from Canada. I wondered what on earth we had done!
I was a stay-at-home mom for the first 15 years after arriving. My life entirely revolved around my children, and I am sure they are the grounded, respectful human beings they have become because I was always able to be there for them. I am eternally thankful for that.
I’d always been crafty, so in my’ me’ time, I stitched and scrapbooked like a fiend. Between 2006 and 2008, I was fortunate to have three layouts published in the Canadian Scrapbooker magazine, one in the USA’s Creating Keepsakes and another in a New Zealand publication, UP 2 Scrap.
I had explored how to become a nurse in Québec when we first moved, but I promptly filed the thought into the ‘too hard’ basket — thanks to the French language requirements.
I worked a couple of retail jobs and hated them, but they helped me realize that to work in Montréal, speaking French was a necessity.
So, once the kids were old enough to fend for themselves a little, I threw myself headfirst into the books and went back to school. I completed a six-month Transition to Nursing course followed by writing and passing the mandatory licensing and French language exams.
Now, I’m fully ensconced in the job of my dreams: training practical nurses at a Vocational school. I completed my Bachelor of Vocational Education in 2019 and now also mentor student teachers.
I remember my nursing training days so well — the conflicting advice from teachers, boring lectures, and the lack of support or motivation to excel. Those memories have inspired me to be the kind of teacher I wished I had back then. It’s not good enough to lecture students. While knowledge is a fundamental requirement of any job, passion and desire are key elements to fostering learning and success.
I’m known for putting the ‘why’ into my instruction and helping my students navigate the reality of the healthcare industry in a fun but productive and realistic way.
Why writing?
During my bachelor’s teacher training, I had to complete many assignments and took my time to ensure they were well structured, grammatically correct, and engaging.
The final one involved writing a portfolio. I realized at this point I had a lot of experience as a nurse and, subsequently, many tales to tell.
When one of my graduate students interviewed me for her podcast ‘World Nurse Collective,’ I wanted to blurt my heart out. I had so much to say, but there wasn’t enough time!
The first piece I ‘formally’ wrote was 16 months ago. I spied an advertisement on Facebook for a writing competition on Vocal Media. I shared the link with my son, telling him to participate before realizing I should also give it a shot.
I have never felt so vulnerable pushing that ‘submit’ button.
It was the beginning of the Pandemic, and although I didn’t know it at the time, writing became my saviour. It kept me sane and in touch with the outside world.
Despite resorting to online teaching — which meant more time than usual staring at the screen — I never switched off the computer at the end of the day because it was my time to write.
Something was ignited inside of me. I was desperate to recount my experiences as a mother, a nurse, and a teacher and share some advice or suggestions for others. I wanted to relive some pivotal life events and highlight my passion for photography, animals, travelling and humanity.
My favourite topics as a writer
I’m more comfortable writing about life events or matters close to my heart, but I enjoy the challenge of throwing together the odd fictional piece or poem.
I’ve travelled extensively throughout the years and have a place in my soul for anything related to New Zealand. I’m a sucker for nature and dabble in amateur photography, but most of all, I appreciate and love life.
I’m immensely proud of my three kids, my raison d’être. Hannah and her partner Steven are the fashion designers behind the brand Fecal Matter. Their creative originality is not everyone’s cup of tea, but the message behind their art imparts a clear message about vulnerability, differences and acceptance.
James is a psychology graduate and is amid a Master’s in Sociology. He is in for the long haul with aspirations to become renowned for his research on the relationship between the human mind and the environment.
My ‘baby’ Thomas is a musician, sound guy and comedian. He is returning to Toronto in late August to continue his studies in Media Production. He recently had his first short film premiere on the big screen, which made this mama bear immensely proud. Last year, Tom created a YouTube video that cleverly blends an MP3 audio, an old video of me as a child, and his music mix.
There are some creative genes in the family!
The whanau is not complete without the furry babies. Our two lovely cats Booboo and Bubba are the perfect fodder for stories with their love-hate relationship, wild antics, and utter joy they bring to us all.
Reflections and Forecasts
Communication is a vital part of everyday life and critical in my job. I view writing as an extension of an innate desire to create and a channel for learning, flourishing and evolving as a person.
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” — Kurt Vonnegut
Over the past three years, I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed of by becoming a dedicated community member here at Medium. I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for the support I received from numerous folk who not only read, clapped and commented on my stories but who have become friends, advisors and shoulders.
Although my little Nursing Notes publication has only a handful of followers, I am glad to have my spot to publish my work-related stories in the hope of educating my readers. If you are a nurse or have a medically related story to tell, fling me a request to become a writer for Nursing Notes.
Writing has become part of my daily life. Although I don’t always have the time to create stories, when I do, it’s like the world stops, and my fingers are in tune with my mind as they transplant me into the creative moment.
I am forever grateful for finding Medium, a place to share, grow and learn as a writer.
Ideas are continually popping into my head, so who knows where this writing journey will take me? Hopefully, to some secluded, warm, snake and spider-free spot in my old age!
Story updated September 22, 2023
