almost five

At around this time every year I wander through the days leading up to his birthday, trying my hardest to accept that he is one year older. The universal experience of the mother.

I could write about how difficult it is to comprehend five.....because five is a whole new stage and a much bigger world.

But instead I will just say... I am so very happy that he is five. I am so very sad that he is five. 

I snapped this photo of him a few days ago while we were discussing his birthday presents. He hasn't asked for much and I'm sticking to my golden present rule. On Saturday we will celebrate pirate style with his Montessori friends and on Sunday we will stay home, eat pancakes for breakfast and bask in the sweetness of five-year-old Che.

hello!

Our beautiful friend Sarah Humphreys sings the sweetest tunes. Her latest album is hello and Daniel filmed the music video for the first single Like a House Needs a Door.

I took on the role of Creative Director (not really) and was there for the two days of filming. Apparently standing behind a camera unleashes a significant amount of confidence; enough for me to ask the waiter at the cafe to "...be a bit sexier." 

I hope you like this rather nostalgic film. It's so very Sarah - fun, whimsical and a little bit quirky. 

hello is available to buy on itunes and in your favourite music stores - you and your kids will love it, promise.

grounded

At the moment the days are rolling into one another; a blur of emails, stories and day-to-day busyness. Somehow, three editorial deadlines have fallen on the exact same day as Che's birthday. Throw into the mix a pirate party and a request for the best chocolate cake with strawberries please mum and I have a ridiculously full week ahead of me.

I'm a thinker, a dreamer and a worrier. Often I spend far too much time in my head. When I need clarity I go for a walk and most of the time I take the children with me. Che, like most little ones, is fascinated by the minutiae. When we walk he's always ten steps behind; following the ants, inspecting the broken fence, collecting fallen blooms. Before long I join him and whilst it isn't purposeful, I end up crouching to his height, gathering pods and leaves and seeds, and grounding myself. It's like a beautiful yoga practice, where I settle into my body, connect to the earth, and exhale. 

When people discover that I am a yoga teacher the immediate presumption goes something like this: vegetarian, 5am sun salutations, ever-calm-(((((((om))))))))-muma. The reality? I eat meat, I can't remember the last time I rose with the sun to practice and I om to calm myself when the stress-levels peak. When I birthed Che and tried to navigate that strange first year I came to realise that yoga isn't my asana (posture) practice at all. My yoga is staying present when the tasks ahead are overwhelming, practicing a few rounds of cat stretching on the kitchen floor while dinner cooks, breathing bhramari (humming bee breath) in the shower to settle my nervous system. 

Yoga is an afternoon walk where I mimic the pace of my little yogi. Meditation is arranging our treasure on the table when we return home. 

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2012."

Che: Sensitive, thoughtful and so very engaging. He turns five this week. Sigh.

Poet: ...climbs everything. "She's cute but gosh, she's hard work."

Last week on facebook I asked whether many of you were interested in doing your very own 52 next year. There was a resounding "yes" ... so it seems that 2013 will be the year for a portrait a week. Will you be joining in?

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sakura bloom - a silk and linen giveaway

After winning The Sling Diaries I was given a gift voucher to Sakura Bloom. But, as you may have already noticed, I own a few gorgeous slings and if I add more to my collection I may be setting myself up for a quadruplet pregnancy.

So...I'm going to play it safe and pass on some babywearing love.

I'm giving away two slings - one simple sling featuring a double layer of dupioni silk (valued at $180usd) and one pure sling featuring a single layer of Irish linen (valued at $88usd).

There will be two winners. The first name drawn will get to choose either the silk or the linen. Both winners will get to choose their very favourite colour - like lavender, wheat, shale, terracotta, sangria....good luck with that!

You can enter this giveaway a maximum of three times:

• first entry - following Che & Fidel over there on the right
• second entry - popping over to Che & Fidel on facebook and hitting 'like'
• third entry - sharing this giveaway on either facebook/instagram/your blog

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. (If you can't see your comment press the 'load more' link under the comments box). If you like, tell me whether you would choose the silk or linen and what colour you have your eye on. The winners will be chosen by the random number generator and published in this post on Wednesday 26th at around 9pm EST. Winners will be contacted by email. This giveaway is open to international readers.

Update: comments closed. The first winner is #230 Max, the second winner is #71 Kate. Congratulations ladies....I'll be in touch x

photos: (left) I wear Poet in the simple silk sling in amber....photo by tim (right) I wear Poet in the pure linen sling in twilight...photo by tamara

an unhurried childhood

I clearly remember the first day we took Che to Montessori. We walked slowly, following his amble, and when we reached the gate his teacher welcomed us. "I like that you let Che take his time," he said.

I thought about that comment as I drove Che to school yesterday. I thought about it in reference to the hurriedness of our morning; the bread that I eyed as it took forever to defrost, the lost drink bottle, the blankets and books that went flying as we hunted for a hat.

This morning, just like most days, Che was unperturbed by time. He sat in a cardboard box popping bubble wrap; Poet was close by marvelling at a balloon. I was thinking about my role as the gentle hurrier - c'mon, c'mon, c'mon as I mentally tick the list - bag, jumper, hat, drink bottle, sunscreen, book for news, fruit for snack. If I didn't hurry we would never get to school on time; hurrying is necessary but sometimes I wish it wasn't so.

              This week the new issue of Little One Kids comes out and in it is a feature about Elsa and Hugo's rooms. I had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle (the muma) and writing the story. Her two children, older than mine, are beautiful - kind, intelligent and thoughtful. Out of all the questions that Michelle answered there was one about extra-curricular activities that really resonated with me. She is passionate about an unhurried childhood -.slow days spent close to home without the need to do every.single.available.activity. As a result her children have a palpable love of their abode and are happy to spend their weekends in the garden, down the dirt road, chasing the rather endearing Spoon - the dog. 

As a writer one of the best things that can come from working on a story is understanding. I loved reading Michelle's words as she discussed the considered rhythm of their days in country Tasmania. I've been thinking about Che and how next year, as he trots off to school, I'll do my best to not get caught up in the whirr of schedules, after-school activities and weekend to-dos. 

Our mornings will be rushed, our weekends will be pyjama-clad and, hopefully, I'll be able to slow childhood, just a bit. Am I dreaming?

photo: a little cottage in berry....

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"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2012."

Che: His behaviour was appalling...and then I realised that it was dusk and he hadn't eaten since lunch. 

Poet: Like the cat got the cream, Poet got the sugar.

By far and most definitely my favourite portrait of Poet. Do you agree?

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