Why We Write: On Pandemics, Heat Waves, Police Brutality, and Resiliency

Heartfelt writing.

The Brevity Blog

Melissa HartBy Melissa Hart

My mother was a professional writer as I am now, and when I was young, she created an office with a thrift store desk and a bookshelf in her garage. She wrote at dawn before my siblings and I woke up, the door thrown open to birdsong and backyard cats, a table lamp illuminating the page tucked into her electric typewriter.

When I woke, I brought her coffee spiked with cinnamon and slipped away to read whatever kids’ novel captivated me at the time. But the details of a writer’s life—the purr of the typewriter in its circle of light, the coffee, breeze blowing in through the door and cats winding around her ankles—made an impression, and I could think of no more fulfilling career to pursue than the creation of stories where there’d been only blankness before.

My mother desperately needed that hour to refresh and…

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Happiness and kids

Happiness and kids.

What do I want?

All I want is to be happy.  What will make me happy?

The answer without any hesitation is: Happiness is seeing my kids happy.  Happiness is making sure my boys have a happy present and future, and a past for which they are thankful for.

Sometimes I have to make decisions for my boys against their wishes.  I know they do…….  me for it but I am sure one day they will realise the reasons for my decisions.

I had a wonderful chat with fellow mummies and realise we are in the same boat. All mum wants the best for their kids and we may not tell as often but you are the heartbeat of all mums.

I read somewhere that ‘if your kids are not happy with your decisions, you are doing your mum job well’.

Mums always need to balance between what they need & want, against what is necessary for future happiness.  We just have to be a ‘bad’ mum when we deal with food, grooming, basic life skills and others.

Habits, routine, lifestyle- my challenge is to make habits which may lead to a good lifestyle.

If what I am doing makes me a ‘bad’ mum to my kids, well I don’t mind.  In time to come, they will know. We may not be around then, but I will be happy to know my kids are well and good wherever they are and wherever I am.

Am I happy now?  I am and will be happy as long as my kids are happy.

Mum & Mala

Mum & Mala

My first Blog… And I would like to dedicate it to my Mum. Would like to share my past, present and my future with her as the main cast in my first blog, as she is, in my life.

I come from a family of six kids and I was the youngest baby of the house. My mum took up two jobs to support us after my dad’s  sudden passing, when I was in preschool.  My mum has never been schooled but she is, in my eyes, very well educated, in the wisdom of life, grit and values. She worked very hard to see all her kids through school.

Mum is eighty six and the perils of age has caught up with her, especially over the last few years. She seemed to have aged swiftly, and sadly, with the onset of dementia.  Her memory is failing and she is also getting weaker.

I moved to Western Australia last year, with my husband and kids to have a more holistic lifestyle.

My mum was pretty upset when she realised I was planning to move to a faraway place where we have to take a flight to see each other.  I realised she was upset not because I used to be there for her but because she will not be able to be there for me. Whenever she stays with me, she makes it a point, that I take my meals during my busy work schedule, coaching my boys on their school work and doing my household.  When I am ill,  she will insist my siblings to fetch her to my home, to make sure she is there for me.

I am proud to say. I am independent and strong like my mum.  Though she is aware of that, she still treats me like her little baby girl.  I am still a little girl in her eyes, though I am neither little nor young anymore.  She was afraid, if I move far away she will not be able to look after me.

Early this year, I went to visit mum after nearly ten months.  She teared when we surprised her with our  visit.  Mum has aged, and looking at my frail mother, brought back flood memories of how she has religiously put her kids above herself with sheer selfless dedication.  I’ve never seen my mum craving or desiring for anything. Her children are her life and her world.

During our time of departure from our hometown, mum set her feelings of sadness aside and tried to portray a brave front.  She cooked my favourite meal, that I will miss, though she was extremely sad with the reality of not being able to see me as often as she likes.

We had our fair share of squabbles during my growing up days…well it is part of growing up…  but deep down we know we love each other and will be happy to make each other happy while moving forward with our new paths and dreams.

Life has been awesome here and we have made Australia our home.  I have created a stepping stone for my teens to be on a wonderous path towards a beautiful life and future.  As a mum, that’s what I want – just like my mum.  I am sure I have the nurture and nature to be a good mum.  I hope one day my teens will be able to look back and say at least half of what I feel and say about my mum.

Looking at my siblings, I think my mum has nurtured a good family. They have always shown love and care to one and all without expecting anything in return.

Thank you, family, for making me what I am today.

I am grateful and blessed with a beautiful mum and family