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The Pig’s Arms would like to extend a warm welcome to a new contributor, LindyP.
My morning walk is early these days before the fierce Perth sun penetrates into every pore in my skin.
I pounded up the hot hill ,turning to face the busy road and saw a brightly coloured biro on the pavement , still pristine in it’s package. Then I remembered -kids are back at school today. What a shame, some child will find their brand new pen missing out of their school bag.
Another five minutes along the footpath was a bus shelter , and lo and behold there was a drink bottle sitting forlornly on the seat.
And then I wondered about all the children starting a new school year, some with excitement about meeting new friends, teachers etc. But what about others ? What about the ones that have left the family home without breakfast or without a ‘take care’ or ‘good luck today love ‘? Will anyone be there when they come home after school, full of the day’s events, longing to be able to share their enthusiasm ? Perhaps not .
I often think about and regret my lack of mothering skills when my two kids were
young ,and observe and wonder at how they turned into such beautiful people -more by luck than judgement on my part, but I think they know they were loved, and I feel so sad that so many children today are not loved the way they should be.
sandshoe said:
What a lovely introduction to you LindyP. Thank you and I am delighted to meet you here, right good company and particularly right good cheer for the speaking up and out, I think especially for those of us who struggled eventually to an end of child raising and see regardless lovely human beings as a result. I acknowledge there is something magical to see in each of these individuals born to us that belongs indelibly to them and drives successful survivors, that relate and interrelate in a satisfactory way with us, each other and/or a social environment of their own. I have no doubt however, you have given your children heart, reality, a sense of the knowledge of love.
Having had a difficult career with child raising I feel to the depth of my gut a sense of personal safety at the Pigs Arms, but a feeling of the greatest honour paid us that you have chosen to submit a cameo of this important message to the bar. How beautiful you take me the path of the observations I make of the world around me when I step into it, seeing evidence of children and loss, lost objects, and sadness. I think experience that teaches empathy is one of the most difficult paths and your writing, really, one of the most important contributions made to the bar from a personal viewpoint.
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Hung One On said:
The fact your children turned into wonderful people Lindy means your parenting skills were just fine. Write some more when you can.
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lindyp said:
Thankyou for that-I am new to this blog writing so it will take a while to get used to!
lindyp
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Therese Trouserzoff said:
Tim the Cabin Boy routinely leaves some of his school accoutrements on the bus, at the bus stop, in one of the classrooms he’s visited throughout the day, in another kid’s tray. His lost sports gear routine is legendary and I think accurately reflects his serious dislike of sport. Fortunately other kids know Tim’s propensity for losing stuff is one of his special qualities and almost as frequently as he loses things, they are returned and ready for the next go around.
His piece de resistance was bringing home another kid’s bag. When we phoned the number on the bag tag, that Mum was completely unaware that her little angel had returned home sans any gear. And the next day, there it was, Tim’s bag sitting all alone on a bench in the playground. As deeply loved as he is, we still sometimes think of our Tim as Mr Oblivious.
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algernon1 said:
Thank you for this LindyP and welcome.
Having had many trips to the west (Mrs A’s family are from Western Australia) the most recent being a rush trip last week. I noted on the plane the many kids returning to WA and how quickly the direct flights went at short notice with those returning.
They don’t need to be small. My youngest (year 11) is very good at making its lunch and leaving it on the kitchen bench or leaving thinks at school or even losing its bus pass.
As Calypso says please write some more.
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lindyp said:
Algernoni my son still does that and he’s 40 !
Thank you for your kind words
lindyp
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Calypso said:
Hello Lindy.
And welcome. You recaptured memories for me and I thank you. I recently relocated to The Southern Highlands from Hillarys in Perth. I could almost reach out from my home and touch the ocean and I miss that. Please write some more.
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lindyp said:
Thanks Calypso-I often go to Hillarys to catch up with friends, and to get Sharky’s fish and chips !
lindyp
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helvityni said:
My mum might have taken my eldest brother to school on his first day, the rest of us of her nine children walked there happily with our older siblings, there were always older and younger siblings, and of course with the rest of the village kids.
We had to laugh at her (or rather with her) when she wanted to take her last child, my youngest brother to school all by herself. That was her the last chance,life was not so hectic anymore… 🙂
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gerard oosterman said:
Well done Lindy P.
I knew kids were back at school because the skate park is now quiet. Mums and some dads would be happy to see the end of the holidays. I know my mum always sighed with relief. It was easier then. We all walked there, even to the kindergarten we walked hand in hand with my brother or other kids. Stats tell us the world is actually a safer place now than ever before but somehow we don’t feel it is so… everyone gets driven or chaperoned.
You are right, kids grow up as a matter of luck or more to the point, their inherited genes. I bet you were a good mum and loving them is always the best form of upbringing. Thank you for your lovely insight.
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vivienne29 said:
Still can’t get into comment box at the bottom on page.
Very nice and concise article Lindy. Not my experience and knew of none who may be neglected. One can be lucky and also live in a good country area. But losing things is another matter – never lost. There was one boy at the primary school who was also going home with one of my daughter’s gear – her hat, her school jumper. He was a bit of a boof head ! Happened so often I had to have a spare sun hat and a spare jumper.
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lindyp said:
Yes I walked to school as well -in knee deep snow!
Now I live in a city where my candles melt in summer !
Thanks Gerard for your kind thoughts
lindyp
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