Tag: son

February 2026

The end of February caught me off guard. Such a short month with many things going on! “Back to school”, I repeat. My daughter corrected me when she was a secondary student, telling me that it was back to school for her, but back to work for me. Absolutely right.

I think about the teacher/learner, work/school, dichotomy. I love teaching because it’s eternal learning. I love my job because I learn and connect. I have a privileged opportunity to make a difference. So many new things to learn in all kinds of ways: new students, new curriculum(I’m teaching art!), new leadership role (Marrung Lead– so humbled to take on this role) and a new team in our office. I miss having Peter in our office. My son-in-law is one of the best men I know. I’ve been so lucky to have him in my office for the last couple of years. When I recollect what’s happened in the past month, moments of such variety, I feel overwhelmed by the constant change. The overload of input and output and the range of feelings. I have noticed a shift in my energy levels and capacity to get things done. I have cried a lot about the losses that have rewarded me with this time and energy.

I went to my grandson’s first market stall. I bought a necklace he made and have received plenty of compliments about it. I feel so pleased that he is learning these entrepreneurial skills at a young age.

I could get ai to improve this writing for me, and the reader would likely appreciate it. I want to be considerate, but this is a space that has never been well read, so I’m just doing it for me.

The best thing I’ve read this month: https://tommydalts.substack.com/. It’s inspired me to write more words, rather than just sharing what I’ve been into.

This review was a good read. I never liked the novel. I love the Kate Bush song, as the introduction to enjoying her music for a lifetime.

I am Done with Compromise

“In a relationship, when does the art of compromise, become compromising?” Sarah Jessica Parker

“We all have a childhood dream that when there is love, everything goes like silk, but the reality is that marriage requires a lot of compromise.”Raquel Welch

So who is right? Sarah or Raquel?
A man I adored had this saying as his mantra, ‘Life’s a compromise’, he would say, frequently. It never sat well with me. I am a win/win or no deal kind of person. However I went along, thinking perhaps that way is right. I wondered, maybe I’m stubborn, unco-operative or difficult to get along with? The compromises didn’t work out. It drained me. I was never quite happy with the compromises. I find some are laziness in regards to ourselves, leaving both involved dissatisfied.

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise.” Robert Fritz

If you take the time, communicate the truth and remain open to other solutions, you can usually find something that meets needs. If you can’t and that is continuous, I think you are in the wrong place. The truth is, if it is only half what you want or some other mix, it usually isn’t what you want at all.

“Don’t compromise yourself, you’re all you’ve got” Janis Joplin

Today I was offered a position very similar to the one I applied for at my school. Same wage, same type of job, different location. I have promised my son I would not work at the school he now attends, which was exactly where this was. I would consider working there in the future. He has one year to go. I had to turn it down. I may not get a leadership position now.

I feel really good about my decision. Had I accepted the compromise, I would now be trying to convince my son, it would be OK. I would be hoping it would be OK. I know this is not the kind of start I would want in a challenging new job. I love what I do now and am happy to keep doing it.

Hope is Free

My son went on a camp once with a Christian youth group and came back with a t-shirt screen printed with “Hope is Free”. It has stuck in my mind. I wasn’t really keen on him going on that camp, but the t-shirt made it all ok. He was young and I didn’t want him to get ‘cult – ed’ at a tender age! I had nothing to worry about it turns out.

I really like that saying, and at times lately, it is becoming a mantra. If you need it, take it on.