It is said that it is a short 24/7 news cycle these days. In the last few weeks it feels like we have been dealing with one shocking news story after another. So many things happening that cause us to be distressed, disbelieving, enraged, horrified and so on. It can be a challenge to maintain a positive attitude at times and continue to teach our young well and protect the babies from the pain of the grown up world.
Two particular stories have been deeply distressing this week.
Firstly, the Paris atrocity; the raw emotion and pain I observed in my Parisienne friend who lives here in Gippsland after the news of the slaying in Paris hit our airwaves, was heart breaking. She loves her home country and city and at the same time has embraced her Aussie lifestyle with zest. But her birth place of Paris, is still in her heart and I did not know how to console her.
The second was a recent feature story about 81 women (that we know of), who died in Australia in 2014, probably as a result of domestic violence. Reflecting on the domestic violence situation in Australia during a lengthy discussion with Tez, left me feeling like I was watching my friends’ raw emotion, it just left me feeling so wretched.
Over the last 24 hours I have not been able to stop thinking about these things.
What can I do?
I know that there is a common view that the raising of children and the lessons of life are the responsibility of each mother and father, but I am drawn to the “global village” notion. I think each mother and father does have to teach each daughter and son life lessons, but I also think that aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, teachers and bus drivers, among many others, can also contribute. I would like to think that as an aunt, friend, godmother, sister, step-mother and colleague that I can offer a contribution to help the kids I know and love, to grow and create a better world.
In 2014 there were a number of babies born in my circle of family and friends. In each one of these babies I see the future and I feel hope. In each young person I am involved with as they reach adulthood and start making decisions, I see good and I respect them. In the work world I participate in, I believe that essentially good things happen and make the lives of others better, each day.
Two particular stories have been deeply distressing this week.
Firstly, the Paris atrocity; the raw emotion and pain I observed in my Parisienne friend who lives here in Gippsland after the news of the slaying in Paris hit our airwaves, was heart breaking. She loves her home country and city and at the same time has embraced her Aussie lifestyle with zest. But her birth place of Paris, is still in her heart and I did not know how to console her.
The second was a recent feature story about 81 women (that we know of), who died in Australia in 2014, probably as a result of domestic violence. Reflecting on the domestic violence situation in Australia during a lengthy discussion with Tez, left me feeling like I was watching my friends’ raw emotion, it just left me feeling so wretched.
Over the last 24 hours I have not been able to stop thinking about these things.
What can I do?
I know that there is a common view that the raising of children and the lessons of life are the responsibility of each mother and father, but I am drawn to the “global village” notion. I think each mother and father does have to teach each daughter and son life lessons, but I also think that aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, teachers and bus drivers, among many others, can also contribute. I would like to think that as an aunt, friend, godmother, sister, step-mother and colleague that I can offer a contribution to help the kids I know and love, to grow and create a better world.
In 2014 there were a number of babies born in my circle of family and friends. In each one of these babies I see the future and I feel hope. In each young person I am involved with as they reach adulthood and start making decisions, I see good and I respect them. In the work world I participate in, I believe that essentially good things happen and make the lives of others better, each day.
 This is what the future looks like | 
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It starts with one conversation at a time. I hope, with all my heart, that each conversation I have with these young people is heard as love. That each one grows knowing that love makes lives so much richer and therefore, they avoid hate. I hope each contribution I make, helps make something for someone a little better each day. If I can be a mentor and role model to just two of my babies and their world is better as a result of that, then it will be a sharing of a love that has made all efforts so worthwhile.
DC x
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