avatarAmy Marley

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

3139

Abstract

ams. Projects tempting me but also overwhelming me.</p><p id="bb31">I know it is time to focus and refine. Put daily habits put back into practice.</p><p id="5d17">My youngest, Matilda, started kindy 5 days a fortnight last week. A transitional period of a few hours a day… with longer sessions starting soon.</p><figure id="4edb"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*XMZ6ENrTuVCeHFV7"><figcaption>First day of Kindy and Grade Two— photo my own</figcaption></figure><p id="cbb8">An opportunity for the first time in a while for a few more precious “me” time.</p><figure id="4c79"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*bm1Rx3x1Hwks9Vui"><figcaption>Girls helping me research book design — photo my own</figcaption></figure><p id="b6b1">When the girls are home, I have the intention to be fully available to them and their adjusting needs.</p><p id="6943">I used to think that being “urbanised” was a ball and chain scenario. Like I wasn’t a contributing human if I wasn’t in the paid workforce — a working mum. Letting down the females of the species by playing an old fashioned stay at home mum.</p><p id="78a7">A stigma in society that we need to do it all and be it all as mothers.</p><p id="7735">It doesn’t have to be true for me. It is my choice. I keep reminding myself some Dads choose to stay home too.</p><p id="fc45">Having children is an amazing gift… more than I ever realised.</p><p id="760b">I put becoming a mother off for so long. I had even decided I wasn’t going to be one. After being lucky enough to have two children, I was still unconsciously putting being a mum into some weird box of “not being enough”.</p><p id="8ea6">After leaving my former career, I grieved hard. I felt like I had failed at being able to do it all. I was here, but not here… well not as much as I am now.</p><p id="eb6a" type="7">Stuck in my head not realising being in a position to stay home is a true blessing.</p><p id="a066">A blessing I am now grateful to be fully embracing.</p><p id="cf20">Watching the girls grow and learn. From Riding and skateboarding- naked! Seems to be their go-to escape at shower time for one last skate — <i>I’d put a photo up…but yeah bare bums are on show!</i>)To swimming and having fun drawing and reading.</p><p id="197f">Guiding them to build resilience muscles as they encounter bumps, bruises, burns and more.</p><p id="bec2">I love listening to their funny takes on the world.</p><p id="1430">Like one of their friends using a translator app to understand what her dog was saying to her.</p><p id="bf6a">Supporting and being supported by the community within the school.</p><p id="a4c1">Washing away the guilt of being so free when others are not. Being me, in the environment, I find myself in, best I can.</p><p id="dd14" type="7">How does it get any better? — Rasheed Hooda</p><p id="987e">I had been putting off sharing words until I caught up on reading and responding.</p><p id="8d9f">Finally clicked that I never catch up!! It is an infinite cycle. One I am happy to be on. Whatever season I find myself in.</p><p id="687f">Thanks for

Options

being patient with me as I “catch up”.</p><p id="c0de"><i>Thanks for reading</i></p><p id="dc82"><b>Thanks for being you</b></p><p id="a122">Breadcrumbs to words that helped me join some puzzle pieces over the last couple of months — there were many more. I wish I could include them all.</p><div id="4255" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/choices-ecf81a04904"> <div> <div> <h2>** Choices</h2> <div><h3>Choose To Win</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*ByYefmPydByXzXcvrJLPEg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="2406" class="link-block"> <a href="https://johncdavisauthor.medium.com/you-have-to-start-somewhere-608e08c3bb1c"> <div> <div> <h2>You Have to Start Somewhere</h2> <div><h3>Here and now is a great place</h3></div> <div><p>johncdavisauthor.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*qzEb8jH9wK7VqV7_)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="47ee" class="link-block"> <a href="https://link.medium.com/qQ2ukkbnBdb"> <div> <div> <h2>where you seek it</h2> <div><h3>She lives only after sundownbefore the sandman comes, discovering treasures of the mind. In the daylight hours she's…</h3></div> <div><p>link.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*OW7cEtBbu4A6-3oa.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="7996" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/quality-time-f5f267e9a8e0"> <div> <div> <h2>Quality Time</h2> <div><h3>Poetry prompt: love languages — quality time</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*me-iaV36Qtgn9Td8mRpe5g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="2f37" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-brother-changed-my-life-77d2baf376c9"> <div> <div> <h2>My Brother Changed My Life</h2> <div><h3>Some good deads last forever</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*CILW_nZVQrzN6zDhIKTOCA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Poetic Reflection

Life-ing

Summer days at play — photo my own

Sometimes I life Sometimes I write

Writers write Dreamers dream Teachers teach Screamers scream

Labels disappear Silenced with bottles of beer Daily habits fade away Distracted by summer play Dreams and visions Guide to stride

A jack or master A toe or leg Balancing act or future regret Clarity not there… yet

Doubt tests desire* Thoughts on fire Embrace the mess Singe the stress

When Not if Is The word

No right or wrong Always belong — to the now

Walk the talk or Talk the walk

Open heart and open mind Follow the wonder and find

Learning to let go Go — with the flow Trust Delay never a denial

Here to watch and learn Not just work and earn

Six senses communicate Magic in the world Within a book Or through eyes that look

Life teaching me in unique ways

Sometimes I life Sometimes I write

I have been absent from sharing my words.

Ditching the crutches made me embrace life in a new way.

My energy and environment wouldn’t allow me to stay seated for long.

Reading and writing in brief sessions. Breathing and being in the world around me.

Lucky enough to be immersed with family, friends and nature.

The Blackwood River — Bridgetown WA— photo my own

Words still close to my heart, but we needed some time apart.

To be and see with clarity.

Projects swimming in my head.

Some almost finished, others just getting started.

I felt overwhelmed for a spell. Add in unexpected news, lockdown and a bush fire threatening the fringes of suburbia and I needed to keep my energy close to me.

It was scattered… not the time to send it into the world…. inviting “too much” back in.

It happens. I accept it now.

There is no “rush”.

My patience muscle has come a long way in the last couple of months.

Ever so grateful for this wonderful supportive community.

Thanks never seems enough to express the gratitude—each of you a shining presence in my heart.

Each time I dipped back in to read, I was gifted with big, comforting hugs.

Beautiful emails and comments checking in to see if I was ok.

A bag full of prompts inviting me to play. All saved for another day.

A mind map bursting at the seams. Projects tempting me but also overwhelming me.

I know it is time to focus and refine. Put daily habits put back into practice.

My youngest, Matilda, started kindy 5 days a fortnight last week. A transitional period of a few hours a day… with longer sessions starting soon.

First day of Kindy and Grade Two— photo my own

An opportunity for the first time in a while for a few more precious “me” time.

Girls helping me research book design — photo my own

When the girls are home, I have the intention to be fully available to them and their adjusting needs.

I used to think that being “urbanised” was a ball and chain scenario. Like I wasn’t a contributing human if I wasn’t in the paid workforce — a working mum. Letting down the females of the species by playing an old fashioned stay at home mum.

A stigma in society that we need to do it all and be it all as mothers.

It doesn’t have to be true for me. It is my choice. I keep reminding myself some Dads choose to stay home too.

Having children is an amazing gift… more than I ever realised.

I put becoming a mother off for so long. I had even decided I wasn’t going to be one. After being lucky enough to have two children, I was still unconsciously putting being a mum into some weird box of “not being enough”.

After leaving my former career, I grieved hard. I felt like I had failed at being able to do it all. I was here, but not here… well not as much as I am now.

Stuck in my head not realising being in a position to stay home is a true blessing.

A blessing I am now grateful to be fully embracing.

Watching the girls grow and learn. From Riding and skateboarding- naked! Seems to be their go-to escape at shower time for one last skate — I’d put a photo up…but yeah bare bums are on show!)To swimming and having fun drawing and reading.

Guiding them to build resilience muscles as they encounter bumps, bruises, burns and more.

I love listening to their funny takes on the world.

Like one of their friends using a translator app to understand what her dog was saying to her.

Supporting and being supported by the community within the school.

Washing away the guilt of being so free when others are not. Being me, in the environment, I find myself in, best I can.

How does it get any better? — Rasheed Hooda

I had been putting off sharing words until I caught up on reading and responding.

Finally clicked that I never catch up!! It is an infinite cycle. One I am happy to be on. Whatever season I find myself in.

Thanks for being patient with me as I “catch up”.

Thanks for reading

Thanks for being you

Breadcrumbs to words that helped me join some puzzle pieces over the last couple of months — there were many more. I wish I could include them all.

Life Lessons
Parenting
Dreams
Poetry
Amy Marley
Recommended from ReadMedium