Dec 28 2008
Experiencing ‘The Tribe’ for 4 Days
The last few days, over this festive season, have been a glimpse of what parenting in a ‘tribe’ would be like - as in the saying, it takes a village to raise a child.
Although I didn’t have any designated ‘time off’ from mothering my little one, it was so relaxing being surrounded by my partner’s family, including his two older cousins who played with him and entertained him with ‘Diablo’ tricks (sort of a modern version of a yo-yo), gymnastics (about the only yoga I did was showing the Pibler’s 8-year-old cousin how some of her gymnastics poses are similar to yoga), dancing and endless peek-a-boo.
Witnessing the Pibler’s enjoyment of his extended family, seeing their joy in him, and not having the sole responsibility of monitoring the Pibler’s well-being was great. I could sit and read a book on the couch, go and have a shower, all while still being there for him. I’ve come home feeling refreshed and newly motivated in my role as mother. Which is a good thing, because he has come down with a racking cough and cold and is rather unwell (again!). We spent most of today cuddling on the couch, which was actually very relaxing.
While ‘on holiday’ I re-read an old favourite, Ali Smith’s ‘The Whole Story and Other Stories’, a book of ..surprisingly enough..short stories. I fell in love with her writing all over again - I read ‘Hotel World’ a few years ago and loved it too. Her stories make you want to live life on a different plane, where you notice the kind of things she does - the everyday occurrences and moments that tell so much about our human experience. It also made me want to write short stories.
I’ve tried my hand at that over the years but never finished one I liked. I’m now considering doing a formal short course on writing so that I can get some skills - dialogue and setting, for instance, which I need a lot of work on - and use them in short stories. My novel is still on hold, and I’m beginning to think I might try a different avenue in my writing. Short stories and poems seem a lot more compatible with the short bursts of attention I can give my work as a mother - and they are also easier to get ‘out there’ because they can fit into other publications, e.g. magazines.
I’ve made some notes inspired by a walk on the beach during our time in Devon, which sparked off thoughts about the way as adults we become so removed from spontaneous impulses, that I could see the Pibler’s cousins were still so in touch with. I hope this will grow into a story!
