Unique. Not typical.
For the most part, that’s a good description of my life. Sure, there are some elements that are common with someone else. Woman, daughter, wife, mother. How I live out these roles, though, is far from typical.
I’m a first generation Canadian, born and raised in the Prairies. My parents tried their best to stay true to the West Indian heritage that they know and raise Canadians in both a way and a land that were unknown. The beauty of this country is the great mosaic that exists. No two faces are alike; no two backgrounds are alike. While the parents of my schoolmates were from a different culture, they had similar struggles. There seemed to be a hidden shame in struggling. Now, as a parent, I juggle what I know along the unknown. I’m also learning that there’s no need to be ashamed. On occasion there’s failure, but the rest of the days are successful.
Another unique part of my life is home education. We’re a new homeschooling family. This was not on our radar when we were first married. We never thought we’d be homeschooling our children when they were born. Much thought and research went into our decision as they approached school age. Society today is nothing like how society was when my husband and I were in school. I used to think that homeschooling was for elite, über-organized, wealthy, artistically gifted families. None of those words are a perfect description of my family. I’ve learned that you don’t have to be superb to homeschool.
I aim to keep it real, to be honest in my living. I don’t have all the answers. My hope is that I stand out not as a sore thumb, but because something I’ve shared here encourages you to continue on your own life path. There are many hilarious moments in our home each day; my kids are constantly giggling. My girls find joy in sticky fingers, stained clothes and simple meals. More importantly, they know that they’re loved and adored. My daughters are constantly teaching me about overlooked aspects of life.
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| My three girls |
This is a glimpse as to what makes me unique. Today’s Parent magazine is searching for parent bloggers; different faces to share their stories. The bonus here too is that this is also a freelance opportunity. If the blogging aspect doesn’t work at this point, there’s still a chance to write an article here and there.
A few other great posts are: