Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school. ~Albert Einstein

I have such mixed emotions about Maddie starting school on Thursday. On one hand I am incredibly excited for her. I loved school and I am still friends with some of the wonderful people I met in the first few years of my education. I never took the 'education' or academic side of school terribly seriously, but I adored making friends and learning from some of the great teachers I met along the way.

On the other hand I am terrified. Up until now, we have been able to protect Maddie to a degree. She has had the freedom to just be Maddie. We have celebrated her passions and marveled at her development and creativity. The pre-school she attended last year was like a beautiful garden playground over looking Sydney Harbour. Her teachers were incredible. They helped us lay the foundations (being considerate, making friends, developing a thirst for knowledge, understanding self worth, contributing etc), but they also encouraged play, laughter and just being kids. Now, for the first time, she has to 'fit in'.

I remember watching a wonderful speech given by the magnificent Ken Robinson about how schools can kill creativity and every word made SO much sense to me.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

As Maddie begins school, my greatest hopes for her are that...

- She has confidence in herself and knows what a magnificent little soul she is.

- She listens and learns but also respectfully challenges when she believes in something.

- She treats everyone she meets with respect and kindness.

- She celebrates her achievements and feels true joy when she works hard and accomplishes something.

- She learns to lose gracefully and understands that making mistakes is sometimes the best way to learn.

- She makes lovely friends and treasures them.

- She has teachers that celebrate who she is and encourage her to follow her passions rather than make her 'fit in'.

- She remembers to laugh and not take it all too seriously.

- She eats her fruit and remembers that going to the toilet is always more important than playing!

Most of all, I hope that she knows that intelligence comes in all shapes and sizes, and although school is a wonderful step in growing and developing, that she is much more valuable than the grades she gets or how quickly she grasps maths / science / English etc! May she develop a true love of knowledge and may studying be a discovery and a joy rather than something she 'has to do'.

One thing is for sure. Simes and I will be behind her every step of the way. As Cyndi Lauper said 'If you're lost, you can look and you will find me. Time after time. If you fall, I will catch you I'll be waiting. Time after time.'

Truth is, I prefer the Eva Cassidy version (may she rest in peace).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWJ3GCWTqqs

Go for it little Mads. We've got your back kid xxxx

A little bit of girl time

I decided to take a couple of weeks off work to hang out with Mads before school starts on Feb 2. I just can't get enough of the kid... she makes me smile from ear to ear.

Some things Mads loves at the moment...

- Veggie toast from Sonoma or Luxe (the kid definitely inherited her mum's love of good bread)

- Singing to plants (in fact, just singing generally)

- Dancing to her own beat (which definitely doesn't resemble the beat of the song she is listening to!)

- Drawing pictures. Mostly of love hearts, rainbows, mermaids, flowers and happy people (I guess a psychologist would say that was pretty positive?)

- Going to the movies (simply can't get enough of The Muppets)

- Babies! (she is obsessed with Agnes and any other baby she can get her hands on)

- Run up cuddles (they will never get old... although they can sometimes be a little violent!)

- Nudie runs (the kid gets her kit off at every opportunity)

- Sausage dogs (why wouldn't you be?)

Random comments from Maddie...

'Dad, all you need in life is love, laughter, sunshine... oh, and a little bit of chocolate!'

'I'll show you a place full of razzle-e-dazz' (I think it was meant to be razzmatazz!)

'Mum, do I really have to go to school full time. Don't they have a part time option?'

'Mum, isn't it funny how life doesn't always work out the way you planned?' How so Mads? 'I always thought we would have a bigger house than this!'

'Ladies and gentlemen, introducing....' (the line we hear before she enters the room in yet another strange costume)

Treasuring every second of the next few weeks. Can't believe my little minx is going to big school. One chapter closes... another begins xx

Mindfulness

I'm not really a legitimate blogger. The only reason I put fingers to keyboard is to capture little memories for Maddie to look back on one day. This is particularly important because I have the MOST terrible memory in the history of time. I have never even kept a diary before starting this blog, so it is all very new to me and I feel like a bit of an impostor (truth be told).

It was my cousin Rob's gorgeous wife Beth that inspired me to start a blog. She started one when she got up the duff with her first baby, Daisy. We were living in London and I wanted to keep my family and friends back in Oz updated on all things Maddie.

Beth's writing is beautiful, creative, fearless, hilarious and inspiring. When I have time, I love dropping into her world and that of the incredible women that blog around her. I find it extraordinary that they share their thoughts so freely with the world and it nourishes my soul when I take a peep.

Even though I only really get the time to skim the surface of this world, one of the blogs I discovered suggested coming up with a word for the year. A word that reflects what you hope for the year ahead and how you plan to approach life.

After much consideration, I have decided that my 2012 word will be 'mindful'. I plan to be mindful and live in the moment, instead of fruitlessly running negative thoughts about the past and catastrophising about the future. Mindful of just how lucky I am. And even when I'm not so lucky and things go to shit, mindful of the best way of dealing with the situation and to bravely get on with life!

Dancing to Norman Jay spinning tunes from the Good Times Bus in Hyde Park at the opening of the Sydney Festival with our amazing friends Simon and Nattie made me mindful that life is pretty damn fine. There is nothing quite like a good boogie with thousands of strangers to fill your soul with happiness. I am a 'wooo' girl from way back! Even Mads was 'woooing' by the end of the set.

There was talk that Norman Jay could become an annual event at the festival. Bring. That. Shit. On! He is the master of making people feel good.

Time for a visit from the Tooth Fairy

Maddie's second tooth finally dropped out today (2nd Jan 2012). It had been wobbly for months and the big tooth had already made itself quite at home behind the little tooth (not a good look!).

After much wobbling and apple crunching, it finally came out this morning. You've gotta love a milestone.

A snapshot of the day...

A morning spent removing said wobbly tooth and pottering around the house.

A girls brunch on Glebe Point Road.

A gorgeous afternoon at Neilson Park with Mads and some special mates.

Three separate tantrums from Mads (exhausting!).

Dinner with Benny and Richard and Dimitri's Pizza in Surry Hills (deliciosso!)

Plenty of laughs along the way

I treasure every moment with my little girl. Tantrums and all. She teaches me love, patience and oh, so much more!

Wonder what the tooth fairy going rate is in 2012? Me thinks a gold coin donation should do it xx