Wildling Magazine - Volume 12

VOLUME 11

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Š 2018 Wildling Magazine All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without prior written consent from the publisher, except for brief portions quoted for the purpose of review, as permitted by copyright law. www.wildlingmagazine.com info@wildlingmagazine.com Instagram @wildlingmagazine Facebook facebook.com/wildlingmagazine Front Cover image by Jon Canlas Back Cover image by Rebecca Lindon

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CONTENTS VOLUME 12 September 2018

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Contributors

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Editor’s Note

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Dreamtime

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I Remember Her

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Coping With Grief

17 Favigna

73 Portugal

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Let Your Inner Child Go Wild

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Leanne Jones Drawings

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Play, Make & Create

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Layers Of Life

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The Soft Touch

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Harbour Island

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Slow & Sustainable Parenting

103 Stockists

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Fable Heart

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CONTRIBUTORS Jon Canlas www.jonathancanlasphotography.com Sarah Black www.sarahblackphotography.com.au Fay Johnstone www.fayjohnstone.com Rebecca Lindon www.rebeccalindon.com Louise Thompson www.playmakecreateart.bigcartel.com Emma Ross www.mamalina.co Rebecca Fougerousse www.redfernphoto.com Alison Cooper www.alisoncooper.me Lea Ciceraro www.lovemesimply.com Twah Dougherty www.twahdougherty.com

Image by Twah Dougherty 3

EDITOR’S NOTE Volume 12 arrives just in time for the Autumn Equinox and is an opportunity to draw in, harvest, plan and seek inspiration for what will manifest in Spring. It also sees Wildling Magazine venturing back into print (albeit on a much smaller scale). A limited run of this issue will be available directly on our website and once sold, will not be re-printed.

I’d also like to remind you of our newest venture Wildling Woman - a blog and podcast centred around self care and self prioritisation for mothers. If you have not yet discovered this place of spiritual nourishment then you’ll find us on the website and on Instagram at @wildling.woman.

This issue welcomes Jon Canlas to our pages again - one of my photography mentors. This time he is drawing attention to the issue of violence and murder of indigenous women in America. Please take time to read this story and assess whether there is a way you can help (if even just sharing these stories with others). There’s also essays on slow and sustainable parenting, the importance of art and play for children and coping with grief, plus fashion, travel and more.

As ever, we would love to hear from you if you have your own story to share - you can contact us via the website or on info@wildlingmagazine.com Rebecca Lindon Editor-in-Chief

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I REMEMBER HER PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY words and images by Jon Canlas

In late June of 2018, I packed up my 15 person passenger van, along with 11 other indigenous women and supporters and drove from Payson Utah to Oglala South Dakota on a solidarity trip for MMIW (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women).

The number one cause of death among indigenous women is sadly, murder. The purpose of the trip was to meet up with other families who have had loved ones go missing or murdered and who are still seeking justice or answers. Many of the women who traveled with me have gone through the exact same things in their own family personally. During our trip, there would be various rallies, gatherings, and art installations. We would be there in solidarity and offer comfort, healing, prayer, and hopefully through photos, be able to bring awareness and help to these families.

Over the 4-day trip we had gatherings at Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation, Oglala and concluded in Rapid City South Dakota for an art installation including all names of those represented by the families they left behind. Story after story of indigenous women who had some of the most unjust things happen to them, were relaid to us. Like the story of Mariah Highhawk of the Lakota Nation, who at the age of 20, was found under a utility truck with her fingers and toes broken, her shoulder shattered, and bruises and cuts on her body that lead her family to believe she was a victim of domestic violence. However, the Rapid City police claim she “died of hypothermia” and told her family there was no evidence of foul play and “don’t you forget it”. Mariah’s daughter, Matea, who is 6, witnessed the domestic violence that morning of her death and tells her grandfather every day she knows who killed her mom. Stop and think about what you just read. This is not a fabricated story, a movie script, or fiction. This is a real as real gets. And had I not told you of it, you would have never heard or read about it as stories like these do not get the media coverage that one would get if the victim was caucasian, or non-native.

Or there is the story of Larissa Lone Hill who at 21 went missing on Oct 22nd 2016. Her last text to her mother led them to believe she had fallen to human sex trafficking. Again, when they told the local authorities they told the family to “go on with your life and wait for her to pop up”. Her family have received several intimidating texts from unknown persons asking for ransom in return for Larissa.

I met her mother and her sisters. I heard their pleas for help through tears. It is infuriating when the people who are supposed to help you are dismissive and treat you as if you are a burden. These stories are horrific. When you hear them, they seem to not be real. Like some script for the newest summer blockbuster murder mystery. However, these are not scripts. This is something that is happening even now in 2018. It is a reality for countless indigenous women and families all over the world, not just in the United States, or South Dakota.

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So why in the world, would I, a non indigenous man get involved with something like this? Because I believe these images can make a change. I first got involved with MMIWhoismissing via a friend of mine, Alexis Munoa Dyer, who asked if I would come and document a rally in Park City during Sundance.

I had traveled to Standing Rock back in Nov of 2016 on her invitation. She told me what the rally was for (bring awareness to the issue of murdered and missing indigenous women), and of course I said yes.

Several families, who I all assumed were from Utah were in attendance. After the rally I thought I’d be able to document these families individually but that wasn’t the case as they were from all over the US. So, I started with a member of MMIWhoismissing, Denae Shanadiin, who’s aunt Priscilla Lee, had been murdered in 1984. This trip would be the pinnacle of this project I had been working on.

Since the trip, MMIWhoismissing (@mmiwhoismissing) started gofundme accounts for both Mariah’s family (https://www.gofundme.com/mariah-high-hawk-family-support) and for Larissa’s family (https://www.gofundme.com/larissa-lone-hill-family-support). These families were already struggling before either of the tragedies. Both needed to purchase a car as family members who have health problems related to the trauma and stress, currently have to walk 30 miles for doctors appointments.

They also need legal funds for lawyers to continue investigations with authorities and most importantly, to help the children these mothers left behind. I hope these photos stir something inside of you. I hope they make you mad as hell and make you want to help or make change. We live in a time of massive social injustice and I felt by donating my time I would be able to bring the story to someone who can do more than I ever could... to someone who could actually do something other than liking a status on Facebook or saying I stand in solidarity with you. Thoughts and prayers, while appreciated, can’t hold a candle up to getting off your duff and actually doing something to make a change. Both gofundme’s are still active and any donation of any size is still so, so needed. Can you help? Do you know that person who can help? Let’s spread the word, and help bring some comfort, healing, and love to these families who deserve every bit of it.

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FAVIGNA TRAVEL ESSAY photography by Sarah Black

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LET YOUR INNER CHILD GO WILD LIFESTYLE ESSAY words by Fay Johnstone and photography by Rebecca Lindon

As the holidays come to an end and the routine of back to school and work returns, you might find your care-free summer-self adopting the role of stressed-out sergeant major as you juggle daily chores and responsibilities. Once the weather turns, your summer thongs will be replaced by weatherproof boots and your skin will be back under sensible layers. Yet the wild callings of your soul still long to connect to the natural world, feel the fresh air and run free. Take time out to step away from the confines of four walls and leave the screen behind (and the chores with it) venture out into the wilds of your garden, local park or woodland to let your wild self go free and connect with the natural world.

Bring the kids too and let them make friends with your inner child. Play outside together until the sun goes down with these creative ideas.

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Taking a walk with your Inner Child - Before you head outside, sit yourself down in a quiet space, take three deep breaths to sink into a relaxed state and get yourself fully present. Bring your awareness down into your heart centre and continue to breathe slowly following your breath right down into your belly and fully releasing as you breathe out.

- When you feel ready invite your inner child in to your space.

- Imagine your inner child in front of you. Take a look at how she looks, what she is wearing. Does she seem pleased to see you? Does she look happy?

- Notice how you feel as you sit before her, ask her if she has anything to say to you or she may even be carrying a gift. Just wait, be patient and receive.

- If there is anything that you want to say to your inner child then tell her now.

- When the timing seems right give your inner child a hug. It might feel really good to physically reach out your arms and hug the air!

- Ask your inner child to accompany you on a walk outside and show you their favourite places to go.

Allow yourself to be led as you venture outside. Explore and be amazed by what opens up for you.

- Be sure to give your inner child a big hug to say thank you when you are ready to head back inside.

In the Woods - Play together by finding the tallest tree, the tree with the fattest trunk, the nobbliest branch, the smoothest bark and the greenest leaf.

- Keep everyone busy by each finding something smaller than a 50 pence piece and then comparing your findings.

- Gather leaves of different shapes, sizes and colours and take them home for pressing in a book. You can then use them on a rainy day to create a picture.

- Use a scarf as a blindfold and take the blind-folded player to a tree or plant, let them explore the textures and form with their senses through touch and sense of smell. Then move them away from the plant and remove the blindfold. Can they guess which plant it was?

- Poet-tree: Play a word association game with a tree or plant with each person saying a word that comes to mind to describe the plant. Write these down. You might end up with something like “big, green, bubbly, softie�. If this is just you by yourself, sit with the tree a while and breathe, see what the tree inspires in you and have your notebook ready!

- Tree Songs: Choose a tree and sit beneath it. Listen carefully for sounds that you can hear. Ask each person to create a sound that they can hear or feel inspired to make and create a song to honour that tree.

- Tree hugging - need I explain?

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Create a Sacred Landscape This activity can be started off outside and then finished inside (if the weather turns!). It’s a beautiful introspective exercise for you to do by yourself to connect with your inner knowing and also works well to do with others.

- Out in nature take a walk with the intention of gathering seeds, leaves, rocks, seashells, feathers and any other natural objects that you find along your path to create a sacred landscape.

- Back inside find a piece of material like a tablecloth, sarong or pillow case to use as a backdrop.

- Begin your landscape by taking each item and asking it where it wants to be placed, then carefully place your item there. Continue with each item.

- If doing this exercise as a group, then each person will place their selected items on the backdrop.

- There are no rules to create a landscape except for this - do not move an object that has been placed by someone else (unless you ask them very nicely and they agree!)

- You will find that as you add more items, a picture or shape will form. You may also be inspired to add other items from your home like candles, precious gems or crystals.

- Once you have finished placing your items, pause and sit quietly by the landscape in meditation.

- Note down how you feel when you look at the spread in front of you and what comes to mind when you look at it.

- You can leave the landscape and add to it or remove pieces over time. It will shift as you do.

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Wild Animal Noises Really this is the most fun. Out in nature make wild animal sounds from deep down in your belly - try it and see what sounds come up. Are you a bird or beast? To keep kids entertained make a list of animals and get them each to make these noises like mouse, bear, lion, parrot, elephant, wolf for example.

Finding Fairies Out in nature take yourself (and your kids if you have to) on a hunt for fairies. Ask your inner child to take you to the most secret parts of wherever you are. Notice the places you are drawn to and those that you shy away from. When you feel that you have found a place where fairies dwell, sing them a song, tell them your wishes and leave them a gift. You might want to leave flowers or some slices of fruit to give them your thanks.

Touching the Earth There is no better way to realign with the heart of who you are than to connect to mother earth herself.

- If the weather is fine then whip off those shoes and go barefoot, grounding yourself to the earth with each step. Imagine your feet as lungs breathing through the earth.

- Get your hands dirty! When was the last time you put your hands on the earth or dug in the garden?

What about making mud pies or building a sandcastle?

For Rainy Days Grab your wellies and your raincoat. If you can’t beat it then you might as well join it! Why not go splish-splashing in and out of all the puddles just like the kids do without caring how wet or dirty you get? Or try catching raindrops on your tongue. Prepare for a happy ending with clean towels, a change of clothes and warm cocoa and cookies.

Bringing the wild inside Remember your wild and natural edges by bringing tokens from the natural world inside your home.

Press interesting leaves and flowers into favourite books and collect pebbles, sticks or seeds that you find to display. Make sure you have some inspirational images from nature on your phone and around your home to remind you of the beauty of this earth that supports and nourishes you.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, ungrounded or disconnected from the things that matter to you, support and inspiration from nature is never far away.

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PLAY, MAKE AND CREATE LIFESTYLE ESSAY words and illustration by Louise Thompson

I have always worked with children and families, in a variety of roles - as a nursery nurse, play worker and education officer at a zoo. I am super lucky to be able to call doing what I love ‘work’, however running creative workshops is more where my career path has lead me... for now, rather than a destination I aimed for! I felt a bit lost after having my two boys, now 8 and 3 years old. I knew returning to work full time wasn’t right for us as a family, however my job had kind of defined who I was for many years so the thought of doing something else made me feel uneasy. I started the search to find that elusive work-life balance and while looking for inspiration and help I found the Blossom Charity, run by a fabulous, supportive bunch of ladies who gave me the confidence to move forward with renewed passion.

I started PlayMakeCreate in 2015 combining my experience in early years and education, a passion for the natural world and my creative streak! I am happy that my career now grows organically as my priorities shift, its taken a while to get my head around this but flexibility in my job role is vital now I have a family.

what works for you as a family takes time and evolves with you as things change. I guess that is the biggest difference - no longer was I the priority - ‘I’ had become ‘we’ and I wanted to make sure we were all happy.

Engaging with nature and expressing creativity is so important in every way - engaging with nature is intrinsic to our wellbeing - for both children and adults. We are part of the natural world and everything is so fast-paced in everyday life that it is easy to forget that, therefore we must make time to connect with it regularly. I also strongly believe that if our children are going to look after the Earth they have to feel part of it and have positive, hands on experiences while out in natural surroundings.

How will they truly care for something that they don’t feel a connection with or have happy memories of? Expressing their creativity helps build self esteem and confidence and a better sense of self. Children are often forced down a path that is all about getting it right, but being creative allows you to enjoy the process and not worry if it doesn’t go to plan - often a lost quality as we reach adulthood. Happy accident paint splatting is one Motherhood hit me like a freight train. You think of my favourite ways to paint! you know what it will be like, but actually you have no idea!!! After my first I felt really quite Open ended activities always allow children to low and like I’d lost a bit of me. My job defined engage and explore freely. Simple things like who I was and now I was left in limbo, it took a sunflower seeds and tubes or lavender play dough. while to recover and adjust to my new role. As I There are no instructions, no right or wrong or mentioned earlier the need for a work-life balance end product, just the process and the materials. loomed overhead as my maternity leave came to Potion making with flowers and herbs was popular an end and made me reassess. Influenced by time at one of my recent workshops and one that many and money, flexible working was now my priority, children started the session with as there was no not a challenging career with prospects. Finding expectations. During the activity the children 31

were engrossed with picking their ingredients, mixing and stirring some talking about the smells and colours and others just quietly creating a magical concoction!

I am very lucky that where I live in South Norfolk is surrounded by beautiful countryside and we have woods and stunning beaches under an hour’s drive away. As a family we often go for walks and explore.Yesterday we went blackberry picking and watched the new foals in the field nearby. Some of our favourite days are at the coast, beach-combing and hunting in the rock pools. I’m a huge advocate of Forest Schools and we are lucky enough to have one in our village that we go to weekly, it’s helped the boys confidence and self-esteem massively.

Both my boys have wonderful imaginations and easily loose themselves in make-believe, which I love to see and hear. My youngest will sit with me and join in if I have my paints out or I am drawing but rarely asks or goes to the craft/art draws. My eldest was not interested in mark making until he went to school, then he went through a faze of drawing constantly! Although he doesn’t do it as much, he still often draws and doodles, frequently using it to explain ideas or plan an invention. I often take masking tape in my bag so he can make stick creations while we’re out.

Motherhood has taught me to expect the unexpected. It’s not easy being a parent and each stage has its good and bad bits. But those moments of joy make the roller coaster of emotions and sleep deprivation worth it. You have to roll with it, grab opportunities and be honest with yourself.

Alongside the creative workshops I run, I also illustrate activity sheets that encourage a connection with nature. I have always had a love and fascination of the natural world (I was the child with a bucket of pet snails) and I wanted to share my passion with others. I first got hooked on the idea of developing a sheet while taking part in The Wildlife Trust’s annual #30dayswild campaign in June. This year as well as my #30dayswild pack I decided to create a sheet for each season, to continue the wild days. I keep the activities simple so they can be extended upon, depending on abilities, age, the interests of the child/group and the time you have etc. They can be used just as easy activities or as a starting block to explore deeper. On the next page you’ll find the activity sheet for autumn; full of activities for you and your children to investigate. Unplug for a bit and have fun taking a closer look at what’s around you.

I’d love to hear which ones you enjoyed and how you developed them.

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Play Make Create this Autumn!

Use this activity sheet to explore the wild spaces near you...

The park, your garden, the beach, woodlands...

find us on

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@PlayMakeCreateArt

providing children’s creative workshops in Norfolk

...Please remember to be respectful to plants and wildlife,take care of them and you.

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designed and created by

Louise Thompson

loubelu@hotmail.co.uk

THE SOFT TOUCH FASHION photography and styling by Rebecca Lindon

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Arlo wears top and trousers by Little Dottie Designs. Shireen wears romper by Wildling Woman.

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Arlo wears jumper by Organic Zoo at Marshes & Flint.

Arlo wears romper by Little Dottie Designs and high-tops by Amy & Ivor. Shireen wears dress by Wildling Woman. Book

by Konges Slojd at Marshes & Flint. Overleaf: Shireen wears romper by Wildling Woman. Arlo wears organic sweatshirt 40 and leggings by My Little Cozmo at Marshes & Flint.

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Shop online at www.marshesandflint.co.uk or visit us in store at The Summerhouse at Creake Abbey, North Norfolk. Located just outside Burnham Market.

CLOTHING ACCESSORIES PLAY HOMEWARES BOOKS PARTY GIFTS

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SLOW & SUSTAINABLE PARENTING LIFESTYLE ESSAY words and images by Emma Ross

I’m a blogger, vlogger, wife and mother of two leading a (practically) plastic-free life in London on a mission to make living low-waste easy and accessible for everyone. I want to dispel the myth that reusable items are the domain of eco-warriors and tree-hugging hippies, or that green living requires expensive gadgets and hours of extra time. Below are a few thoughts to help you lead a more sustainable parenting journey which are not only good for the environment, they’ll also save you money (despite an initial financial outlay) and time in the long run. And the sense of satisfaction and the calmness many will bring you is real! Hanging cloth nappies out has to be one of the most meditative things, I’m telling you. That, and the fact that you will rarely run out of things again. Enjoy the tips, and please reach out with any questions! * Block out a day with the kids where you have no plans. Nada. Niente. Like, nowhere to go and no one to meet. Spend all day getting yourselves dressed, eat two breakfasts, brush teeth slowly, sing songs loudly. It doesn’t matter because you have nowhere to be at any particular time. Release yourself from the pressure and see how good it makes you and the kids feel. You might just find that without the time constraints, without the tussles to get shoelaces done up and rush to get changing bags packed, that everyone is just a little bit happier. * Things that might help: a good playlist, a strong brew, a great pair of PJs, a vaguely stocked fridge.

Search #zeroplansday on Instagram for more inspiration. Oh, and it’ll mean you’ll finally water the houseplants. * When you do make it out the the door (you will inevitably need some fresh air and a change of scenery), head out with nowhere to go. Let the kids decide which way to go. Sit at bus stops, watch the buses go by, dawdle, talk to strangers, pick daisies (my kids also tend to enjoy collecting weeds…). Chat about nothing. Chat about everything. Go with the flow and hey, if you end up in a café eating cake or ice cream along the way, just go with it… * Take the kids food shopping (again, with no time constraints). Wander through the aisles, give them their own bags and tasks to spot certain foods. Make it an activity and an opportunity for them to learn and use it as a way to entertain them too. * Buy loose fruit and veg instead of the plastic wrapped ones – plastic packaging accounts for the largest single sector of plastic use in the UK. Also I promise you’ll be in and out of the supermarket in no time at all when you shop plastic free and will end up with different produce you might not normally go for.

Fresh beetroot? Yes please. Alternatively, subscribe to a veg box to avoid much of the plastic packaging.

For anyone based in South London, check out Oddbox.

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* Wherever you shop, take your own bags to the shops (in fact, keep one scrunched up in your bag at all times – they’re so tiny and take up no space at all). Shopping plastic free as much as possible will mean you’ll be super opportunistic (and never say no to that amazing smelling bakery you walk past). * Seek out your local farmers’ market - (officially my favourite places ever) - promise you it’ll be a treasure trove of fresh, seasonal, economical fruit and veg. * Eat less meat. Why not give Meat Free Mondays a go and see how delicious vegetarianism can be. * Switch to milkman delivery – you’ll no longer be running out of milk and save a hefty load of plastic by buying this way. Plus, milkmen are the nicest people ever. Fact. Alternatively, why not try making your own milk. * Generally, giving kids a role and getting them involved – whether it’s bringing in the milk, emptying the food compost, hanging nappies out, cooking - its the simplest way to live a little more sustainably and find the time to do so. * On the subject of nappies, find out if your council is part of the cloth nappy incentive scheme which is an incredible initiative giving us parents a voucher to spend on cloth nappies or wipes. It’s not widely (enough) promoted so please take a look! Hooray (for once) for taxes! * If nappies isn’t your thing, consider switching out baby wipes for cloth wipes. Cheeky Wipes are a great brand or even easier (and cheaper), you know those muslins sitting there not being used? Grab a pair of scissors and cut them up into medium sized squares. Next time you want to reach for a wet wipe, grab one of these, dampen it, and use it to wipe your kids’ mucky hands / face / table. Then shove it in the washing machine and it’ll come out good as new and ready to go again. Same goes with that fleece blanket that no one is using. Wet wipes are responsible for 93% of matter clogging up sewers up and down the country so let’s start to think about the alternatives. See how it goes… Bums next... If you’re going out and about, just pop them in a wet bag and you’re good to go. * There are other ways we can become more conscious and create less waste - and it doesn’t have to all happen at once. Start small – get yourself a reusable coffee cup and a reusable water bottle. Get into the habit of taking it out with you, remembering to get it out / hand it over at the point of purchase (trickier than it might sound when you have kids hanging off you / are in real need of that drink), and then washing it out when you get home again. You can get all sorts of fancy gadgets. Or you can just wash out an old jar of empty pasta sauce and it makes the most perfect water bottle. * Consider buying (you can also make it) some beeswax wrap and say goodbye to clingfilm and tin foil for good. Also just get in to the habit of placing a plate on top of your leftovers and popping them in the fridge - works just as well!

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* Think about starting up a bulk buying group in your neighbourhood - buying bulk is a great way to cut back on plastic packaging and also to meet local like-minded folk in your community. * Be that person who takes home leftovers from the (kinda expensive) restaurant meal you had – with so much food insecurity in the world, food waste shouldn’t be an everyday option. * When it comes to entertaining the kids and toys, visit your local library - they might have some lovely free classes or even better, a toy library. * Grab a friend and her kids and go litter picking in your local park, woods or beach. The kids look at it as a game, and its gets everyone outdoors and doing something really helpful. * Next time you walk past a charity shop, pop in. I challenge you not to find a great wooden toy just waiting to be snapped up. And don’t forget to donate, too. * Consider wrapping kids’ gifts in newspaper or one of their old magazines instead of wrapping paper which is often impossible to recycle. See if they notice (bet they don’t). * Check with your parents if they have any toys left from when you were kids - hand me down toys (and clothes) are some of our absolute faves. Genuine, vintage fisher price telephones, anyone? * Embrace the clothes you already own and try to stop buying new ones – spend the time you would on a shopping trip to buy new clothes refashioning items you already own. Add a waistcoat, throw on a headband, try it with heels; the whole outfit becomes something new. Better still, embrace rewearing the same clothes and not having to put pressure on yourself to buy the latest season’s ‘musthaves’. An estimated £140 million worth of clothes ends up in landfill each year, so consider maybe just holding back on that next purchase. * Consider reusable sanitary items – there are just so many options these days. Cloth pads, moon cups, period pants. With the mega advantage being that next time you come on, you won’t have to dash to the corner shop to pay an extortionate amount for a pack of plastic pads or tampons because your stash is sitting right there in your cupboard, ready for you. Us women get through on average 11,000 tampons in our lifetime. It’s time to start thinking more sustainably when it comes to our menstrual cycles. And that’s before we consider the chemicals laden in the plastic products we’re currently buying * Switch out plastic toothbrushes for bamboo ones and consider ditching plastic tubes of toothpaste for glass jar alternatives. Toilet paper doesn’t have to be plastic wrapped, either. Again, there are alternatives. * Next time you’re in the market for some shower gel, buy a soap bar instead. Just see how it goes. You can also get shampoo and conditioner in bars so it’s more simple than ever to ditch the plastic bottles and cut down on your bathroom plastic waste.

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* Also look to your kitchen cupboard for beauty essentials: slather coconut oil on your skin and take those used ground coffee beans to make the best facial scrub. * Stretch for 60 seconds every morning. Set your timer and get your body moving. Just a little bit. And then tell me that you don’t feel 100% as good as you did before you stretched.

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FABLE HEART ARTISAN PROFILE words and photography by Claire Hannah Perez

I have always had a job and loved earning money.

I started my first paper round at 10, then got a job cleaning my high school after everyone else had gone home. I’ve been a chamber maid, pot washer, frozen food isle packer (not my favourite), receptionist and waitress. Once I had started earning money, I loved the freedom it gave me and sometimes had three jobs on the go at the same time.

I did a degree in English & Education with the open university in three years but also held down a full time job at the same time, and I really think these early years of juggling work and responsibilities stood me in good stead for what I do now - as opposed to having lived-in at a uni and worked at weekends say. Since a teenager, I had become used to my day starting early, and not finishing up until late (something that is definitely required when being self employed). Throughout all of this, I’ve always painted, made my own clothes and bedding, enjoyed photography and creating in my spare time.

Just before I started Fable Heart, I was working as an English teacher for the British Council in Sri Lanka, which I really loved. I left that job to go on maternity leave, and then wanted to stay in Ireland to be near my mum. Work was scarce at the time, and so I started to think about the possibility of starting my own business.

When my daughter was approaching her first birthday and I was freed up a bit more, I had started making things for her to wear and for her room.

As I was back in Ireland again, which is where my granny is from, I was spending more time at her sewing machine and was really enjoying making 49

rather than buying things for my baby. Planning colour schemes and choosing fabrics has always given me a thrill. My nan made a lot of clothes for us as children, and although my mum can’t even sew a button on(!) my nan is really skilled and has taught me so much. My husband was also really encouraging of me pursuing something creative.

He works in a creative industry (film) and I was always a bit jealous maybe, that he had a job he was really in love with. Before I met him, I didn’t know anyone that worked in a creative field, and he really opened my eyes to what I might be able to do and has always been behind me 100%.

As I started to piece together the idea of a business plan, and my love for creating children’s products, I was also potty training my daughter and had fallen pregnant a second time. I made my first crown as a bribe to try to get my little girl to sit on the potty, and only really listed it online as an afterthought.

Not On The High Street is where I began selling, and later found Instagram and learned how to build a website. I reached out to Holly Tucker early on in my journey, and her voice has been there in my mind - either from her books or emails, encouraging me to know I could manage it all. Her journey of setting up NOTHS, and the earlier days on that platform were instrumental to me seeing this not just as a viable hobby but a fully formed business.

It took me about 18 months to realise that I could drop the other products I was selling and pursue dress-up and accessories exclusively. This was a big turning point, and with the help of a friend who is a stylist and children’s magazine editor, came up with the name Fable Heart.

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My plans for the brand have changed hugely since starting. When I began, I didn’t really have much of an aim, I was just excited and full of energy for it. After a while, my aim was really to make money and grow from a small business to a company. What has stayed with me, is a want to be a brand with longevity. I enjoy trends and experimenting, but the thread which binds my brand together is really what I and my daughters enjoy. When I envisage making something, I ask myself could I also give this to my grandchildren, (if I’m lucky enough to have some)?

Would this stand the test of time both physically and from a style point of view? If it would, then I tend to go in that direction. Longevity, I think, possesses real magic.

Because I have no background in fashion, or design, or marketing, I felt an undue need to prove myself (to who, I’m not sure!) and this created an extra drive in me. A couple of years into my journey I took on an investor and began to move the brand into the direction of a more corporate set up. There were quick results that were exciting, like national press and celebrity placement and being stocked

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in Harrods. However with this, came a demise in how happy I was. Spending time on staff hour sheets, bringing in sales and reading through hefty legal documents are all things necessary for rapid growth, and during this time I had also had another baby and began to ask myself was I really happy.

Was this what I’d consider success? Hard work has never bothered me, but it began to feel like the wrong “kind” of work, for me and for my family.

So I took a deep breath and made the decision to intentionally scale back. I am now working alone again, and feel happier and healthier for it. I have a couple of women who are lovely, and who sew for me. They are great with my kids and also feel that the brand is something they are loyal to and love, and this makes me really happy.

Moving forward, I would like to push myself creatively, I’d like to collaborate with my husband creatively some more. I am enjoying feeling free to take on more unusual work now, more fulfilling things and again being in closer contact with my customer base who are incredibly loyal and supportive.

We live very rural, and Ireland is such an amazing place to work and raise a family. We are very lucky to be where we are. It feels like one of the last places in the world that still has a real magic to it. Old buildings, stories, songs. The north west coast of Ireland is, I think, my favourite place I have ever been and even though we all moved here (I was born in England and my husband in Spain), it feels deeply connected to my children, to our relationship and my work. The children’s market here is also small, which means it is accessible, and we’ve had wonderful support locally and from people in our industry in Belfast and Dublin. There is a sense of pride and loyalty to our brand that I feel roots us to this place, we are inspired here and I hope will always manufacture here.

Motherhood has changed me on so many levels, each lesson no matter how painful, I am grateful for immensely. I have learned recently to really stop and trust my instincts. Judging whether something is right for me, and if I should pursue it or if a relationship is healthy or if a decision will in general bring me happiness; the ability to determine these things now feels paramount to me. Since becoming a mother, I feel acutely aware of the time I may or may not have, the fragility of life and all that I want to experience and equip my girls with. Certainly it is my relationship with them, and my aspirations as a parent, that have driven my decision making with Fable Heart. They are the Heart of the brand, will always be my greatest loves and drive. They force me to check myself, work harder, relax and switch off properly, and just generally they push the best out in me and their dad. My husband is really equally as devoted to them, and we now work a 50/50 split, neither one of us being the main care giver. Building a life for them that is stable, full of love and a sense of magic is what I spend most of my time pursuing now and there is nothing we would ever want to do more than that. No day is perfect from start to

finish, we still find things hard and being both self employed we’ve had many months thinking about money, not having enough, wondering if we’re doing the right thing. But four years in, those early hazy days of setting up are starting to lift and it feels like we’re really building something.

Having 3 children in 5 years, and a 4 year old business has been pretty full on. I used to complain that it was all too messy and that I needed help, like a cleaner or live-in nanny to be able to cope. But two years ago, one of our daughters was involved in an accident that changed how I and my husband see things, on such an enormous level that it is hard to describe. We are very lucky that our daughter was ok, but the experience and shock of what happened left us (and our daughter) severely marked. I think everyone knows how much they would give up their life for their children in an instant, and that they are more precious than anything else. But coming close to losing someone so young, that you have made and that you love so much, I don’t believe there is any way you could not see life differently afterwards.

That same daughter is phenomenal in many other respects, and has always pushed us to reconsider, to assess ourselves and situations. She has been the most challenging and loving person I have ever met and we love her so much for what she has brought to our family. Our other two daughters are also just as incredible, but in different ways. The three of them do in general have a really good relationship.

Motherhood has not been the journey I’ve expected, it’s included things like the pain of ASD waiting lists, guilt and more self reflection than I ever could have anticipated. But it is far richer, deeper, more diverse and beautiful than I could have known. I am now really trying to move at a pace where I can appreciate all of that, and all of my daughters in each of their uniqueness, their differing abilities and needs.

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Motherhood has taught me that I am not in control of life. Learning to relax and move with the flow of that, and where life will lead, is a real test. It has made me need to push myself and open up to what might happen. You cannot as a parent, set out and achieve XY and Z because of planning. Particularly if you have multiple children with varying sensitivities, no matter how well intentioned, I think life will lead where it wants. I see my role now as one of showing how to maintain and nurture relationships, how to take care of people and to live as you feel is right for you but in a way that is respectful of those around you.

Equally co-parenting with my husband has allowed us both to pursue careers but also to pursue aspirations as people, and as parents, on a more personal level. I know now that I need my work, my creative time, my time speaking to adults and getting to push myself to achieve something. If I have that, then I am a better mum. I am tired, but I am also fulfilled. Being a mother has made me realise I want experiences over things. Getting to have a business I’m proud of, a marriage I can have time to take care of, customers I have time to talk to, and children I get to spend time with and put to bed every night is my real aim now. www.fableheart.com

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AUSTRIA TRAVEL ESSAY words and photography by Rebecca Fougerousse

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My husband moved to Austria when he was 8 and he lived there until college. In college we were able to spend a semester living there as well. It’s a place that’s home for him more than anywhere in the US and it’s come to feel like a second home for me as well. It had been 10 years since we had been back and we were so excited to return and to take our 4 year old, Louis, with us. The flights were a great price at the beginning of December and Austria is one of the most festive holiday places, along with the snow and winter sports, we knew early December would be a great time to visit. We started our trip in Gaming, the small town that my husband grew up in, then traveled on to Salzburg for a couple of days. On the way to Bad Gastein to visit my husband’s uncle, we stopped in Hallstatt to take in the beauty of the village and surrounding mountains. We rounded out our trip with an afternoon in Vienna.

For me, to see my husband’s joy on returning home made the trip so special. Our time spent in Gaming will be my fondest memories - revisiting places where we’d spent time in college and places where my husband grew up. Watching Louis run free in fields of snow and hike mountains filled my heart with so much joy. The Christkindl market was taking place the week that we were in Gaming and we were able to partake in gluhwein around warm fires in the courtyard of the 14th century Carthusian monastery where we lived during our study abroad semester. We hiked the Kirchstein mountain, which provided a beautiful view of the town (and Louis hiked all on his own!), and walked all over the small town, which provided Louis with lots of opportunities for running free in the snow.

Almost a year later, when he’s asked what his favorite part of the trip was, Louis will still say snowboarding.

He’s fallen in love with the snow and playing in it and is always asking when we can go back to snowboard again. We also happened to be there for St. Nicholas day, which is a big holiday in Austria. Before St. Nicholas comes, the krampus come to visit you and make you pay your penance. The krampus were probably his least favorite part of the trip, though he’ll certainly remember it forever. We witnessed adults run in terror at the site of the krampus in their hairy costumes, frightening masks, and long stick whips.

Louis was braver than we could ever have expected and we were so proud of him. As odd of a tradition as it is for us in America, I loved that we were able to be there for something that makes up a part of the Advent tradition for all Austrians. He woke up the next morning to boots overflowing with chocolates from St. Nicholas and the memory of his bravery in the face of the krampus.

This was our first international trip with our son. It gave me so much confidence in traveling as a family.

While, there were challenges, all the memories and experiences easily overshadowed any stress. Louis has such fond memories of the trip and talks frequently about returning and wanting to live in Austria. It also rekindled our desire to be free to travel more and live abroad, so we returned home with a renewed sense of what our family priorities are.

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DREAMTIME FASHION photography and styling by Rebecca Lindon

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Duvet cover by For Ivor.

Zeus wears short pyjamas by Snork Copenhagen.

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Pyjamas by The Bright Company.

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Pyjamas by Snork Copenhagen.

Jumpsuit by For Ivor.

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COPING WITH GRIEF PERSONAL ESSAY words by Alison Cooper

Just over 11 years ago I lived in London, initially working as a professional hairdresser, before switching to work as a PA in an investment bank.

I left that life behind when I had my first son who is now 11. My own grief led me to retrain and I am now a certified stillbirth bereavement doula and mBIT coach. I am also an Angelic Reiki and Rahanni healing practitioner, and author of Over the Rainbow Journal which is a self help journal for anyone going through the loss of a baby.

In 2009 and 2010 I went in to hospital pregnant and full of hope and expectation, and on both occasions, I left hospital without my baby. I was handed a leaflet with a few support numbers to call if I needed to and sent on my way. The grief I felt was indescribable. I was not in a place mentally to make those types of phone calls, though after some time and at my lowest ebb I did try once. I got an answer machine message that someone would call me back, and I hung up leaving no message. As I laid on the floor crying and shouting ‘why me?’ and ‘how much more do you want me to take?’, to a God I didn’t even believe in, I suddenly felt a sense of calm and a knowing that everything was going to be OK in time.

and made a few for others and for baby loss charity events. I started having regular healing sessions and writing down my feelings and I began to slowly feel better over time though it did take a few years before I could say Ada’s name without crying. I knew that I wanted to support other parents going through the worst thing that could ever happen to them but My first pregnancy was a molar pregnancy meaning I didn’t want to do it faceless at the end of a phone that my baby didn’t develop in the womb so and so began looking at different training courses to everything was removed in a D&C operation. My get me started. second pregnancy was with my daughter Ada who was born at 17 weeks. She wasn’t old enough to More recently I supported someone dear to me at have her own funeral so they did a group cremation the end of their life with cancer and I was honoured and we scattered her ashes at the graveyard with to go through that experience with them. I believe my nan. I made a memorial fairy garden to have at that it is totally possible to heal from grief and loss home to look at every day from the kitchen window because I am proof of it but I understand that many people will not be able to see how it is possible 71

depending on what stage they are at on their own journey. I have grown so much as a person because of what happened to me that I would not go back to the old me for anything, because I know that I will see my daughter in spirit one day.

see and hear of people who are still grieving 20 years down the line because they buried it and never really processed their feelings. I don’t believe in getting stuck in the cycle of going over and over excessive negative feelings helps either.

I guess I’ve always had a good ear for listening or holding space for people because, as a hairdresser, people like to share their problems with you daily so that was good preparation, though it’s on a whole new level mentoring someone through loss. My empathy and compassion definitely grew after experiencing my own miscarriages, I believe that there is no better training than experiencing something so painful yourself.

Besides the self-help journal, I have also devised a 10-week grief to growth program which uses a combination of all the bereavement, coaching and spiritual training techniques I’ve learnt and incorporated myself after my losses. These techniques begin to shift the parent’s energy in a positive and powerful way without having to go over and over and over the trauma. It empowers them in their own healing plus it leaves them feeling more connected to the child or loved one that has transitioned, enabling them to move forward positively in their lives. The program also includes three live 1:1 video calls with me, direct messaging / email access to me throughout and some ‘homework’ to do.

My spiritual beliefs and daily spiritual practice generally enables me to not take on other people’s feelings, but my own experience enables me to empathise fully with them. I tend to ensure my energy is cleansed before a meeting, and then ensure I am simply holding space. Emotions are present I personally believe grief is different for everyone. but my techniques help to transmute those feelings. The traditional grief model of shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger and bargaining, depression, I produced Over the Rainbow Miscarriage and Baby reflection and then acceptance apply but in my Loss Journal to enable parents to work through their experience these feelings can come and go in any grief using the guided questions and have included sequence at any time and many people express years plenty of space for them to write about their own after that they will never get over it. Fear is also healing journey. The book is designed for the parent common and parents worry that their child will be and not about me, although I have included ideas forgotten. Which is why the journal is so special, on what helped me through the worst time of my because whilst the parent is putting their many life for guidance. The journal is something I would thoughts on paper, it is a memorial or something personally have liked to have had access to myself tangible to keep. when I didn’t want to talk to anyone about my thoughts and feelings.

If you have been given a fatal diagnosis or experienced loss, ask questions of your health care Writing is a good way to work through grief because professional and know all the options before making by going into the pain and expressing, you start any decisions. Give yourself a break, what you have releasing emotions to enable the healing to begin. been through is the toughest thing anyone could go Avoidance can prolong the agony and I regularly through so give yourself some compassion, self-care and don’t get busy in order to avoid your feelings.

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PORTUGAL - CASCAIS & LISBON TRAVEL ESSAY words and photography by Rebecca Lindon

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Last year our family paid a visit to Portugal with Martinhal Family Resorts - staying at their Cascais and Lisbon hotels. The team behind Martinhal aim to create a family environment that doesn’t compromise on the facilities, design, food and aesthetics that adults also enjoy.

Each hotel has an amazing kids’ club with activities throughout the day and evening. Our first stop was to Martinhal Cascais where a fabulous outdoor children’s play area sits alongside tennis and football courts and an indoor swimming pool (plus spa). As the children played with fully trained staff downstairs in the clubhouse, we lazily enjoyed cocktails and food upstairs just steps away. Similarly, as we dined in the main restaurant at breakfast or dinner, the children ate and then joined staff in a dedicated children’s area where crafts and activities were on offer. It meant that eating wasn’t rushed and adult conversation was possible (a rarity at mealtimes).

Our second stop was to Martinhal Chiado in Lisbon’s old town. Again, the kids’ club was invaluable but we spent more time exploring the city here. Our apartment comprised of a double room and bunkbeds in the living space which the children loved. During the days we took the historic old Tram 28, rattling up and down the hils of Lisbon and providing amazing views of the city. At night we explored the cobbled streets, watched the sunset at the harbour and then cooked back at our apartment where we felt utterly at home. www.martinhal.com

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LEANNE JONES DRAWINGS ARTISAN PROFILE words and paintings by Leanne Jones

I qualified as Teacher of Art just before I had my son, Rufus (now five). Before I went into teaching, I did my turn as a waitress whilst studying and training, and used to run a party night with fellow artists and DJs, for which I really enjoyed designing the flyers, fanzines and promotional content. I also worked for a few years in TV and spent six months cutting samples for a wedding dress manufacturer.

Now, alongside my artwork and being a mother, I help to run a film production company with my partner and I also do some web design, working with arts organisations and other artists. I haven’t returned to teaching, so that I can be at home for my two children as much as possible while they are still young and also to concentrate on developing my work as an artist.

I’ve always loved to draw; I used to spend hours in my bedroom drawing Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and I loved to draw animals (I’m an expert on dog breeds because I used to meticulously copy the illustrations from dog breed catalogues!). My studies led me down a creative route and I really got into life-drawing classes at the age of 17. I started to develop my current style in about 2008, inspired by the birth of my first niece and then her little sister, and initially all of my drawings ended up on their walls! I also got into reading beautiful publications like Kids’ Wear Magazine and following designers such as Soft Gallery and was totally inspired by their photography. I showed my work in Urban Outfitters in Birmingham around 2011 and started to sell prints from that point.

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I’m currently in collaboration with a kids clothing label, which I’m very excited about and want to produce some clothing under my own brand too.

I have plans to indulge in some of my other skills as a textile and collage artist to produce some original pieces to sell alongside my prints. I love using reverse appliqué and vintage fabrics and am currently setting up my studio space to allow me to pick up this process again (tricky doing this with an inquisitive nearly-three-year-old chipping around).

I am inspired by literature, music, nature, film and fashion photography. Recently, I have been inspired by the change in season from summer to autumn, so am currently drawn toward using the beautiful colours that come with this time of year. One of my early drawings, ‘Donkey Skin’, was inspired by the fairytale ‘Peau d’Âne’ by Charles Perrault, and by Jacques Demy’s wonderful film adaptation starring Catherine Deneuve; I abstract the essence of a character or animal or piece of literature and try to compose it visually in my drawings. I also love the way people capture their kids’ style on the Instagram feeds I follow and the way clothing brands present their models and photographs.

Having kids has given me the incentive and the confidence to take my work forward; creatively, they are nurturing me as much as I am them. I’m looking forward to learning what they are truly passionate about as they grow.

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Motherhood has motivated me to practice harder at what I preach; work hard to realise my dreams, enjoy the journey and ‘try not to worry about it so much’ (all things I continue to strive for, not always feel like I achieve though). I was already on a career path that allowed me to be creative before I became a mother, but now I think I’m more ‘creative’ with how I think about earning, ‘my career’, and in turn, making my home. I am determined to not be overwhelmed by what I do for a living and to make our home-life flexible and fluid, to be around as much as possible. I really struggle with 9-5! I realise how lucky I am to be able to work from home and to be self employed.

I can suffer with anxiety, so the early days of motherhood presented me with some of the most challenging times of my life; I put a lot of pressure on myself when I wish I could have relaxed and enjoyed my babies a little more. Selfishly, I have also found it very difficult to not be able to be spontaneous and to have to plan things so tightly. I like downtime to myself and I like to be alone, and the inspiration to draw doesn’t always happen when the kids are out, so finding the right time is often frustrating, but as they get older its getting easier. The more serious challenges I feel faced with are perhaps rooted in social and cultural pressures;, such as the routine and daily grind of my kids having to go to school five days a week and being heavily assessed along the way. I’m pretty sure it bothers me more than it does them and, luckily, we live near a wonderful school that fits us just right, again something I am very grateful for. Oh, and the ongoing battle with ‘the devices’, and the daily struggle to get everyone out of the house on time!

Motherhood has taught me to care less about the little things, worry less about what others (are probably not!) thinking, and to live more in the moment. And to go a little easier on myself; if everyone is fed, watered and cuddled on a regular basis, then things will probably turn out okay. www.leannejones.co.uk

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LAYERS OF LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY photography by Lea Ciceraro

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HARBOUR ISLAND TRAVEL ESSAY words and photography byTwah Dougherty

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The first time I discovered Harbor Island (Bahamas) was back in 2012 when I was hired to shoot a wedding there. I immediately fell in love with this three mile long island. It is the complete opposite of the commercialism that is Nassau Bahamas.

During our week long trip, we quickly developed a freestyle routine which looked something like this: I would sleep in with my baby girl while my husband took our toddler boy in the golf cart to get breakfast at a local café or something hot out the oven from Arthur’s Bakery. Eventually What makes this Island so magical for me is the we would wander into each other on the beach charm and character it possesses. Even though after breakfast where the kids freely ran and played. there are a smattering of luxury resorts, the island is mainly filled with the prominent energy of lo- When snack time came, we piled into the golf cal life. I felt very connected to the community cart and rode into town for our daily organwhile staying here. I love that the same travelers ic fresh pressed juices at The Sweet Spot (only come back every year and become woven into the juicery on the island). Afterwards, we explored local life. I love that chickens run wild throughout the harbors, beaches or side roads… somethe island and we only need a golf cart (or our times on foot and sometimes in the golf cart. own 2 feet) to get around. I love that the landscape of this island is filled with quaint colonial There were beautiful trees to climb and an inlet homes next to dilapidated ones and not a single where boats were left bottomed out on the sand cruise ship the size of high rises to interrupt the during the hours of low tide. We found an old charming view. I love that the Island has a qui- wooden ore in a ruined abandon house. We ate et ambient lull in its energy. I love the idea that outside on patios and waved to people passing by there’s no direct way to get to this island (other and sometimes they would stop to converse with than having your own boat). Coming from New us. We would giggle over the gossip amongst the York, we took 2 flights to get to North Eleu- locals that were shared with us along the way. thera. From there, we took a taxi to the docks and Sometimes, we stopped to pick up someone askpaid a local “taxi boat” driver $5 cash per person ing to hitch a ride on our golf cart. Being New to take us across the channels to Harbor Island. Yorkers, this is something we would never do anywhere else… but there’s something special and What brought me back this past January was an- honest about this Island that it just felt right to do. other destination wedding. This time, I brought along my husband, 2 kids (10month old girl and The Island’s signature food is the Conch meat from 3 year old boy). My vacationing style is more the Conch shells which are abundant throughout about immersing myself in with the local com- the island. Queens Conch (a place where the locals munity and discovering hidden gems during like to eat and congregate) makes a great grilled random explorations. We opted to rent a house Conch wrap. Bringing along someone to watch off the beaten path away from town. We found the kids allowed us to get fancied up and go out a house that was next to the beach but also had a for dinner and have adult conversations (The Rock large semi-enclosed yard for the kids to freely run House is a favorite sunset dining spot for us) (with chickens and roosters to keep us company).

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There was a moment during our stay that defined the entire trip for me… I remember watching my son run uninhibitedly in the waves, screaming with pure joy at the top of his lungs in his underwear as I held his dry shorts in my hands (because we didn’t plan on taking a dip). While watching him play with self-abandonment knowing this will be a memorable part of his childhood, I realized in that moment that I’m the one who gifted this moment to him. I felt so proud that I built a small business from my heart which enabled me to gift this trip and the memories that come with it to my family. I felt strong as a woman and “successful” as an entrepreneur because this was something I was able to do for them from my own hard work.

As a cherry-on-top of all the pride I was feeling, my heart could have exploded from contentment knowing my baby girl’s first time ever dipping her toes in the ocean happens to be in the clear blue Bahamian sea.

I think a highlight for my son (other than riding around in a golf cart) was getting the opportunity to go fishing for the first time. He’s been asking us for a while to take him fishing even though it has never been a part of our family lifestyle. We promised him we’d make it happen but we didn’t know when or how. When a local Bahamian heard my son’s desire to go fishing, they went home to get their fishing rods and set him up with bait to fish off a pier. Even though he didn’t catch any fish that day, he loved telling the story how his hat blew off his head into the ocean and the fishermen tried to fish it back with no luck.

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Another highlight for my son was throwing rocks to knock down the coconuts from the tree in our yard and then drinking the juice and eating the coconut flesh. For him, it’s an experience he got to have of eating from the land, reaping the reward of the work he put in to get his food. Sometimes, we would wake to find the coconuts had already fallen to the ground on its own, so he would gather them on the front porch to admire and hug them knowing there will be more juice to enjoy.

If I were to give just one advice for travelling with children, it would be to just to do it and not let the challenges be a roadblock or reason not to travel. The gift of experiences outside their comfort zone, understanding of different lifestyles and cultures are priceless.. not only for the kids, but the family unit and for our personal self-growth.

I would love to take my kids to Vietnam where I was born and left as a refugee. I was about my daughter’s current age while my son was around my brother’s age when we fled in the middle of the night with bullets chipping the rim of our fishing boat. I want them to understand their history through my birthplace.

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STOCKISTS Amy & Ivor www.hedleyfield.com For Ivor www.forivor.com Konges Slojd www.kongessloejd.dk Little Dottie Designs www.littledottiedesigns.com Marshes & Flint www.marshesandflint.co.uk My Little Cozmo www.mylittlecozmo.com Organic Zoo www.organic-zoo.com Snork Copenhagen www.snorkcopenhagen.com The Bright Company www.thebrightcompany.uk Wildling Woman www.wildlingmagazine.com/shop

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