Today I said my final goodbye to my ‘Sinna’, my Aunty. Sinna is short for Sinnamma or Chinnamma in my mother tongue, Tamil. This directly translates to ‘little / younger mother’, but is actually the title for one’s mother’s younger sister. In the essence of it she truly WAS my ‘Little Mother’. I am so … Continue reading Little Mother
refugee /rɛfjʊˈdʒiː/ noun a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. It is Refugee Week and each year I realise how greatly privileged I am not to be counted as one of their number. I fully understand that if not for a whole series … Continue reading My Privilege
belonging /bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/ noun: an affinity for a place or situation. I lived in the same house from birth until I was 19 years old. During that time I was surrounded by the same neighbours, had the same childhood friends, attended the same school that my mum (and aunties) and her mum before her attended. I … Continue reading On Belonging
"You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet, still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked. It has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet." (Franz Kafka) I recently read this … Continue reading Just Wait
The last few weeks I’ve spent time with people who have shared their stories, opened their hearts and been fully present and vulnerable. In turn I have been so privileged to be a recipient of this act of, what can only be called, ‘bravery’, and to be able to call them friends. Here is the … Continue reading Bravely Vulnerable
Deep down I’ve always been a people pleaser. We’re all people-pleasers to some extent. Wanting to be approved of and loved is natural and that shouldn’t be what makes us feel ashamed. But when we try to please everyone it becomes a problem and can make us sick. Harriet B. Braiker called it “the disease … Continue reading The Unmasking
I am angry. I am angry because people are dying but there are still people who don’t really want to talk about race and racism even with all that's happening in the US at the moment. I am angry that there are those who sit comfortably in their insular (dare I say 'privileged') little world, … Continue reading Let’s Stop Racism
‘How do you mother and raise an actual living human being?’ (Ann Voskamp)I read this quote, early today, and it hit me how much I will miss holding my boys today on Mother's Day and it’s made me a bit maudlin. Due to Covid-19 they are on the other side of a regional border as … Continue reading Mothering Missteps
The definition of community has changed. These are strange, unfamiliar times - ‘unprecedented’, as we keep hearing. Community as we know it seems to be lost as we self isolate and distance ourselves from each other. Meeting a friend while grocery shopping the other day I felt sad as I had to stop myself from … Continue reading Broken Connections
If I’m being honest, a tiny part of me is a little bit excited about the whole self isolation edict. This is because I give too many people too much access to me, far too often. When I do protect myself and disconnect for a time, I become overwhelmed by guilt and the 'what will … Continue reading Social Distancing
