Articles
Mother's Day last Sunday reminded me of an article I wrote years ago about my children and the antics they were getting up to. As my youngest have just turned 18, I'm entering a whole new era now. I was a very focused mother – we home-educated as well, hence the Nina character, so mothering has always been a huge part of my life. I've also been very entrepreneurial and so never expected any empty nest syndrome at all; I was quite taken aback by a temporary feeling of purposelessness when the girls turned 18. It was almost as if my 'raison d'être' was complete.
The feeling passed as I became used to them going places independently, arriving home late, and doing all those 'young adult things'. And then I was struck by the vast chunks of empty space in my diary where I was suddenly free from chauffeuring them everywhere! I went through the first couple of weeks in a bit of a daze, marveling at the new arrangement, but I'm filling up those empty spaces with plenty of stimulating activity. I daresay my business will shoot through the roof now!
For those who find little children enchanting, here's the beginning of my article, 'Leg Sleeves and Other Childhood Magic'. You'll find the rest of it at my blog.
I pulled a pen out of a sock today. And not long ago I produced a number of matchbox cars from my brown ceramic teapot… You don’t think, before becoming a parent, that you will ever be capable of such magic. But there it is: the daily routine is interrupted by extraordinary occurrences: a parent’s kiss heals, a child’s imagination baulks at nothing, going shopping is nothing less than a visit to the ‘piggy market’, and growing up holds all sorts of possibilities. Or so my son revealed at the age of two when he informed me: “First I’m a little boy then I’ll be a daddy then a mummy and then a person.” ...
I'm utterly delighted to be re-introducing Biljana Torbakova!
Biljana was the first teacher in the world to pilot my first tentative Mastery Club program in 2009 at her secondary school (Girrawheen) in WA. She then took maternity leave and is now back teaching and working with me again, this time with the updated program.
Biljana has made a lasting impact on her students and I look forward to a rich, fulfilling and long-term relationship!
Those of you who have been following this unfolding story will know that we now have Trainee Facilitators in Scotland (Theresa Day), England (Tom Zulu), NSW (Di Price), WA (Biljana Torbakova), and Canada (Greg Schreeuwer), and a fully qualified Facilitator in America (Joan Marie). How blessed am I?!
and the following insightful comment from Melissa Jenkins, whose daughter Aerianna recently signed up for the Online Adventure. Single mum Melissa had just taken over a new business – Green Heart Organics in Inverloch – when all three children developed whooping cough. Melissa wrote to let me know that Aerianna coudn't access the Online Adventure at home as their internet went down at the same time, and she couldn't come to the shop to access it there, being sick. In the same email she mentioned that The Hidden Order had arrived in perfect timing to support Melissa in recognising the blessings in this intense and challenging time:
"... Yes full on, but just a different sort of life for us temporarily! Thankfully working my way through one chapter a night of The Hidden Order was the perfect reminder of divine order, and although from an outside perspective this is the worst timing possible when beginning a new business, when looking a little deeper, within minutes I realised how it was actually perfect because it forced me to be super productive at work, and to come home immediately after close and switch to family mode. Would have been super easy to stay here late and get totally wrapped up in work in these initially week. So a big thank you for your wonderful reminders. I really enjoyed The Hidden Order too. Have just sold a copy of The Mastery Club to a customer, and I am sure they'll be back for The Hidden Order at a later date!"
Melissa Jenkins
Green Heart Organics
2 Reilly St, Inverloch, Victoria
03 5674 2759 / 0438 686 799
Shop open: Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30
NB The Mastery Club Online Adventure is now only $88 for 10 weeks of video clips and Forum engagement!
I'm also touched by the following two email testimonials from Mastery Club members. Firstly, here's Meesha's Baklava Video Testimonial:
I was hosted by the Rotary Club of Kew at their beautiful Kew Golf Club venue yesterday. Jokes aside – and there always are a few at a Rotary Club event, including (usually) some bad ones by the Sargeant ;) – I had a lovely time and sold out almost all of the stock I had taken with me.
Next week I'll be visiting the Rotary Club of Daylesford. I'm looking forward to a day and evening in the country! Must check out the local bookstores too...