Fluid families

Fluid families Story by Lori-Ellen Grant.

My Nana raised five children and the domestic world was her domain. And she was good at it. She loved lavender and there were always dried bunches around her home, scenting our rooms. There were boxes of old comics, dress ups and games. She taught us knitting and crafting and she was the best recycler I’ve ever met. I still have some of the foil Easter egg wrappers that she carefully smoothed out to reuse.

I didn’t really appreciate all that she did. In my world as a child, it all just seemed to happen. But when I think back now from my perspective as a partner and parent, there was so much love in the simplicity and care in their home.

I was a late bloomer when in came to family life and it came as something of a shock. I didn’t appreciate the time involved in the household tasks necessary to keep everything running with four children – three of them under five years old. Achieving order is like trying to tame the sea. There are brief moments of calm and then it’s wild again. Learning to appreciate – even enjoy – this chaos was new to me.

Attitudes around running the household are formed by generational and familial experiences. As a health practitioner, I hear many people’s stories about their domestic lives and how they reckon internally and externally with their everyday reality. These experiences, including my own, reveal the internal tension we can create through the stories we tell ourselves about our lives.

alright for your needs to be met too. However, no one knows what you want if you don’t tell them. Ask, adjust and collaborate, so that everyone’s needs within the family are considered. And then ask again; regular check ins help reduce slippage into old habits. One of the great things about teaching our own children about accountability is that it’s best taught and modelled in the home by both parents.

Asking for what you want isn’t simple. You have to know what you want. See it, feel it, embody it and it becomes more straightforward to take the right action. Parenting (I think) can be fun. But when we have an empty tank it’s a whole lot less fun for everyone. When I feel depleted, I take off for a run in the natural landscape around my home. That hour of solitude fills my bucket and being in nature feels as refreshing as a dip in the sea. More often than not, everything is fine after that. Knowing what takes you back to your sweet spot is key.

Of course, the house still has to function. One idea is to hold a family meeting to discuss all of the household tasks, from paying the mortgage to feeding the baby, all the way through to cleaning up the yard. Having an open discussion about all the responsibilities and jobs that make up a household puts everyone on the same page – and gives every individual the chance to put their hand up for what they can do. In my own experience, everyone began to see how many things there were to do so it encouraged everyone in the family to put their hands up to help.

These conversations aren’t only about getting lunches packed and the kids to school on time. They’re about creating a vision for how we want our families to relate to each other and to the wider community. Today’s families are no longer determined by gender-based norms. Men AND women work, cook, parent and clean. Our roles within and outside the home are more fluid, embracing blood family and chosen family together; we open our homes, sharing and merging the journey of family life and community life. We are all in this together and looking after each other means also looking after ourselves. Let’s infuse our fluid family lives with joy, smell the lavender and keep it simple.

Seek your fresh horizon in 2020

Enrolment vacancies are now available for your child in Years 1-4 and Years 7-12 in 2020.

2021 Academic Scholarships

2021 Academic Scholarship applications are now open for students entering Years 7, 10 and 11. Applications close 23 January 2020.

Let’s get this party started

Story by Mel Amos. Photography by Heidi Lewis.

Do you feel it? It’s that time of year again when the days are warmer and longer, school’s out (if you’re lucky, work is out too) and everyone is in party mode. That chaotic rush of the festive season is looming. And then before you know what, it’s passed us by and everyone relaxes into endless barbecues, alfresco eating and garden parties.

Fresh and easy eating is on the cards, so I’ve come up with a flavourpacked summer party starter requiring minimal effort on your part. Seriously, it starts with a store bought roast chicken! Your friends and family will love you for it.

These little tostadas with their generous hit of spice and heat are begging for a chilled, summer tipple and this is where Shingleback’s 2019 Davey Estate Fiano comes in. This drop smacks of fresh green acidity, lime and apple aromas and fills the palate with a peachy creaminess. It just sounds like summer doesn’t it?

By the way, this recipe is extremely versatile – replace the chicken with pulled pork or crispy fish, or go vegetarian with some smashed white beans – they’re all winners. And if chilli is not your jam, then obviously leave it out or taper it down it bit. Enjoy and happy holidays!

Spicy chicken tostadas makes 25-30 Ingredients Spicy chicken 2 packets of mini corn tortillas (approx 8-9 cm diameter) 1 store-bought roast chicken, meat picked and shredded 1 tbsp olive oil 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground coriander 2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 2 tsp tomato paste Juice of 1 lime 100 ml water Freshly ground salt and pepper Quick pickled cucumber and cabbage 90 ml clear rice vinegar (or white vinegar)

60 ml boiling water

3 tbsp caster sugar

3 tsp salt

2 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced 2-3 mm thick

1/2 red cabbage, finely shredded

Guacamole 2 avocados

Juice of 1 lime

Salt

Garnish 2 or 3 bird’s eye chillis, thinly sliced

Fresh coriander and mint, leaves roughly torn

Sour cream

Method First, prepare the quick pickle by mixing the vinegar, water, sugar and salt together until dissolved. Split the mixture into two bowls and add the cucumber to one and the cabbage to the other (you could put them both in one bowl but you’ll end up with purple cucumber and no one wants that). Give them both a good stir so that the vegetables are completely covered in the pickling liquid. Set aside until required.

Heat the olive oil in a medium fry pan over medium-high heat and add garlic. Stir for one minute or until the garlic has softened but not coloured. Add the chicken and dry spices and cook for five minutes. Add the lime juice, tomato paste and water and cook for a further three minutes. Taste it, season with salt and pepper as required and set aside.

Place the avocado into a bowl, add the lime juice and salt and mash with a fork. Season further with salt if required. Set aside.

Heat a dry fry pan or griddle pan over high heat. Add one or two tortillas at a time and fry for 2 or 3 minutes, turning once. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

To assemble the tostadas, place a spoonful of the chicken mixture on a tortilla, then a spoonful of guacamole and a drizzle of sour cream. Top with some pickled cucumber and cabbage, fresh chilli, mint and coriander leaves (tip: don’t be over generous with your toppings, the idea is to eat these with your hands, not wear them!) Serve with lime wedges and Shingleback Fiano.

Note: if you can’t get hold of the mini tortillas, use the larger ones and cut out rounds with a cookie cutter. Save the scraps and make corn chips out of them by spraying with oil, season with salt and bake in the oven until crunchy.

Early Learning – Year 12 investigator.sa.edu.au · Enrol now on 8555 7511

Providing the opportunity for you to be YOUR BEST SELF

Proudly Supporting South Aussie Farmers

Locally Owned  Locally Made

We can approve your claim on the spot

At Elders Insurance Southern Fleurieu you won’t get passed from person to person trying to get an answer. You deal direct with our local claims team who can make decisions there and then, approving claims up to $50,000. Saving you a whole lot of time and worry. Talk to one of our local agents today.

Call Adam Bowden on 0436 412 695 | 11-13 Victoria St Victor Harbor SA 5211 | www.eldersinsurance.com.au

Underwritten by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited ABN 78003191035 AFSL 239545. Call us for a Product Disclosure Statement to decide if a product is right for you.

Relaxing on the Serafino Cellar Door deck is the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful weather. Sit under the lights, with the traditional vines ready to weave their way through our pillars. Enjoy the atmosphere and the true pleasures of our wines. We have unique, delicious small bites and 3 gourmet platters to choose from, loaded with seasonal produce from our region. Look out for the food themed Serafino Cellar Door Deck Days, during Summer. For more information www.serafino.com.au or 08 8323 8911.