Condiments

I can breathe again

Fill my lungs with hope and 

gaze forward beyond the next

queasy moment

Bend down to sort toys into 

boxes, think about something

other than my next

desperate meal

See altercations without 

expelling a sigh of 

‘seriously’

Embrace the giving of 

lectures, cuddles, guidance

Savour the aroma of a 

hearty meal with gusto

The little things that I 

took for granted –

I enjoy again with 

extra relish

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday challenge that I’m participating in along with a talented community of other writers. We free write for five minutes each Friday in accordance with a prompt. Today’s prompt is ‘enjoy’. 

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Grappling with Gratitude

It hasn’t been an ideal month in which to practice gratitude. Or, perhaps I should say, it has been the most ideal. We’ve struggled with parenting battles – rages that unhappily coincide with bedtime and can last for hours – moments of being all consumed with how to respond with […]

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The Secret Brew

Something is unfurling. Like the brittle tea leaves yielding to the wrap of the steaming flow, it uncurls and stretches in secret. To brew. The word is so evocative, enchanting. It speaks of magic – of inexplicable moments happening almost unseen before our very eyes. I’m not known for my […]

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A Place of Stillness

I used to think I was somehow ‘above’ needing time out. That it was a badge of honour to keep going, continually moving at a frantic pace, doing it all, doing it myself. I’d smile politely when anyone suggested I consider putting the kids in care for a few hours, […]

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Uncharted Territory

Love comes in the form of hearty soups, home-made risotto, chocolate muffins, carrot cake and hand-picked groceries. In shopping bags filled with chocolates, wine, sticker books and hand drawn cards. It is found in the caring texts, the offers of babysitting and treatments, wordless hugs and showing up at bedtime […]

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Lessons from the Earth

We’ve been eating eggplant in everything this week. It still amazes me that our garden is actually yielding edible, beautiful fresh produce. At twilight, when the house is quiet and still, children all tucked snugly under covers, I wander through the abundance and marvel at the magnificence of life. Lifting […]

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Unexpected Encounters

I’ve been a little reluctant to post this week. After the excitement surrounding our parenting breakthroughs with Eli, I got a little unrealistic and almost expected that all our battles would cease and life would be all zen and slow motion to a moving soundtrack. Needless to say, that didn’t […]

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