Thank You!

To Bianca's Teachers, Staff and Members of Rocking Horse Nursery.

I want to go on record as giving profound thanks to the wonderful staff at Rocking Horse Nursery. I know some of you read my blog. You know who you are.
I know I have thanked you countless times for what you give to Bianca and also to us, but “Thank you!” seems so inadequate at times. Bianca has not only learned how to learn (and enjoy doing it), but far above and beyond—about how the world works and its people. How to give and share and do it with purpose and joy.
I want to thank you all for your passion for teaching and for focusing on the whole child. You challenge her and help her discover what her capabilities are. You teach her how to think “outside the box” and look for solutions, and how to collaborate with other little people. How to do what needs doing, and with pleasure. How to sing and dance and do the Locomotion.

I also want to thank you for embracing and supporting us as we have become us—you’ve seen us grow into our family—and find our parenting rhythm. You've always been patient and kind. Even when I've rushed into the Nursery school 45 minutes before the end of the day to fetch Bianca when I genuinely thought I was 45 minutes late.

The African proverb said it well, “It takes a village.” It does indeed and I’m thrilled that you are part of my daughters and our village.

So, once again, from one grateful mum,

Thank you!

C is for Colour!

In a previous post I talked about surrounding yourself with passionate people. I talked about finding small businesses who are doing extraordinary things. Looking for artists and writers, for people who are obsessed with doing something really well. One of the mums at Eva's school handed me a book today and said it was a gift for my birthday. I was thrilled. It was only when I got home however, that I realised it was a signed copy of a book she herself had written. Wow, Anna! I'm so impressed. What an extraordinary woman you are, I am so inspired. I can not wait to go for coffee. Thank you for my book *(^_^)* I love it!

.

A is for Art!

She's Gifted!

In an affluent corner of Kent, in a beautiful primary school on a sunny Tuesday morning, a violin lesson was in full swing. Later that afternoon my phone rang, it was Eva's violin teacher Mrs Mills.”Good afternoon Mrs Da Silva” she said.“I feel that Eva would benefit from an individual lesson as she is progressing well. She really stands out” Mrs Mills continues. “Eva is very musical and always comes up with different twists on things” Wow, I'm impressed Eva's only had three lessons, I think to myself. 'She is very musical and its amazing how fast she's moving through the lessons,' she gushes. 'Eva really is a gifted young musician.'
And there it is, that magic word, the six letters that are music to the ears of every parent. Gifted. I put down the phone and already mapping out her ascent to the top of the international music world. Will she have her first concert in London or Paris? Does she need an agent? Are we raising the next Campoli ? Will she be offered a scholarship at Juilliard New York? After dinner I start surfing the Internet hunting for the right course to nurture my daughters gift. The ad that catches my eye promises, 'Unlock your child's genius!' My husband wonders if I'm going too far, but his words are no more than background noise to me now.

The next morning, on the walk to school, I run the idea of an individual lesson past Eva. But she is having non of it. 'But I like having my lessons with my friends, its fun when we're together.' My heart skipped a beat, but I resisted the urge to scream, 'WHAT!' Instead, I answered in a neutral tone.'That s okay honey.' Studies have shown that its not private tutors or individual lessons that boost marks or the chance of success but rather that having a passion for learning is a more reliable indicator of success. So for now Eva will continue to enjoy her violin lessons with her little friends. I don't want to hijack her childhood. What's important to me is that she's happy and enjoys what she is doing. I don't want her to miss out on the things that give texture and meaning to a human life – the small adventures, the secret journeys, enjoying her time with friends, the setbacks and mishaps, the successes and the failures.

You be the Critic!

In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. They risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to judgment. They thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than their criticism designating it so.

Urban Angelic at Bubble.

Urban Angelic at the Bubble London Kids Trade Show.....Wish us Luck!

Happy Fathers Day!

“Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad.”
~ Unknown

How true.

I can state that I never really thought about having children (uh-huh!) until I met Paulo. I was an only child and the only experience I had of young children were my best friends three obnoxiously rambunctious “boys-will-be-boys” brothers. They tested my patience and me beyond anything imaginable. The idea of having children that might act like these three boys, well… frightened me.

Time, maturity and love changed my perspective on children. When I fell in love with and pegged Paulo for my future, I realized that I wanted children with him. A minimum of four or five, maybe a dozen. In this man I saw someone who valued me as an equal partner. I loved this guy who was funny, sensitive, compassionate, and entrepreneurial, I was touched by how he embraced his inner child and encouraged me to embrace mine. The importance of family was deeply ingrained in him and I discovered that it was in me as well.

We wasted no time in building our family. Despite occasional and normal “hiccups,” our girls are doing well, growing confident and independent in leaps and bounds. Paulo is a major part of all of the girls successful growth and self-esteem, embracing fatherhood and all of the “everything” it entails. Sure I’m biased, but he is an amazing father.

Eva says, "Whenever Daddy comes home, he smiles, yells my name and gives me the biggest bear hug. He makes me feel like the most important person in the world. He loves my mummy. And most importantly my daddy is cool because he doesn't mind that Mummy and I wont let him touch the thermostat."