stanselen~ (to sparkle + & spark)

“The impulse to play is an instinct. No play, no creative life.” 

- Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

I learned almost a year in advance that I would be having distinguished visitors coming to stay with me. No one seemed to know for how long, except to say that I should prepare for a lengthy visit, as they were being sent to learn absolutely everything they could about their host community and country, and they came with very little preparation.

People who recently had similar visitors suggested I should treat them as if they were honoured guests, even though noone seems to know from whence they come exactly. Everyone agrees they don’t speak the same language and know nothing of our culture, but they are very malleable and flexible, often - but not always - easy to get along with (in fact they are very demanding I was also told), and, above all, fast learners. So quick we’d probably struggle to keep up. Luckily, they weren’t all expected to arrive at the same time.

And so we prepared our house for the arrival of our visitors as best we knew how. We wanted them to feel safe, comfortable and secure, as if this were their own home. And once we readied the space, we began to think about what we would want their sojourn to be like. Read more

Gees, I must be in the small 3% of parents who aren’t going hysterical (according to Media hype) over the possibility that I may not be able to justify beating my children as defence in cases of violence and abuse.

Perhaps it has something to do with leading a relatively junk-food free diet, those additives make you stoopid ya know.

(just a thought)

I wonder what kind of conversations parents around NZ are having with their kids over this topic, all I can do is wonder. I can’t imagine children disagreeing very vocally with parents who like to bash, for fear of a hiding, they probably just sadly agree whilst their self-esteem drains into their cornflakes.
I don’t really believe the polls, they have rocketed from 56% to 70% to 97% and I just have to have faith that parents aren’t all stupid and so easily misinformed. I don’t know any parents that actually think smacking is ‘good’ so haven’t been able to nut out their perspective really, every thing I’ve read seems so reactionary and idiotic. Read more