A letter to your loved ones...

Doing Life, Love Mum

Last year, I started writing another book, but this one I had no intention of publishing other than five copies, one for each of my kids and one for Glen and me to keep. 

It turned out to be the hardest book to write so far. I thought I would knock it over in a few months; it took eighteen. 

It felt really nice to hand them all a copy on our way to a long overdue family holiday two weeks ago. A couple of them have already read it, and the others will get to it when they’re ready (Oska probably won’t read it until I’m dead 😉). 

The book is a compilation of everything I’ve learned in my lifetime so far. I know I still have many years and a lot more wisdom ahead of me, but it felt like the right timing with them all setting off into the world and starting to face the challenges that come with adulting. 

It was also really nice to share stories about myself as a human, not just a mother figure… and to throw in a few apologies for the areas where I messed up parenting them. Glen chipped in and gave me a brief for the areas of life where his knowledge far exceeds mine, so it felt like an all-rounded guide to life. 

The whole process strengthened my beliefs and values, and it helped me see a few things with more love and acceptance. It’s amazing how you can think you believe one thing and when you put pen to paper and ponder on it, you realise that that’s not what you think at all. 

I don’t know if writing a book is something you may have considered but I can highly recommend going through the process of writing and reflecting - even if it’s a journal. Having space with your thoughts and feelings is beyond cathartic; it’s soul-renewing. 

Now that project is done, I am pondering what to write next... 

Big love, 

Melinda xo