Growing up, I was fortunate to be part of a family that had simple yet beautiful traditions for special celebrations such as birthdays and annual festivities. Whether it was the cake and pancake breakfast on birthday mornings or the Christmas tree hunt with Dad in his truck, these small rituals marked moments, seasons and the changes that come with the passing of time. Moments that are still clear in my mind and dearly cherished.
Becoming a mama has changed my life on so many levels. One thing 'mamahood' has taught me is that family traditions bring beauty and rhythm to everyday life. Time is such an abstract concept to little ones, (who are wonderful teachers of being in the moment), and I find it more and more important that my little one is able to mark the seasonal changes of the Earth and the passing of time with our own rhythm and traditions. While I love the traditions I grew up with, and have incorporated many of these into our daily lives, I am making an extra, big effort this year to take stock of the subtleties of the changing seasons and celebrations in our corner of the world, and create our own simple rituals and traditions.
Autumn is filled with wonderful opportunities for tuning into seasonal rhythms and festivities.
There are the changes around us in nature as well as the Autumn equinox, Easter, the ANZAC day parade ( I love an old fashioned parade), and Mama's Day. This day took on a whole new meaning when I became a Mama and it wasn't really until I received my first Mama's day lie in, breakfast in bed and package in the mail from my own Mum, that I felt the 'specialness' of this day for women around the world. Today I received this year's package in the post ( thanks Mum) and decided it was time to create another of my own family traditions.
Mama's Day cards to be precise, for all those marvellous mama's in my life. A quick, simple and sweet Autumn design, printed on linen and stitched onto card stock, to be quietly dropped into Mama mailboxes under the cover of darkness, with my sweet baby girl in tow of course.
Happy Mama's Day to all the marvellous Mama's around the world.
