When your birds fly from the nest

LEAVING HOME: Hunter leaves home, pictured with his proud mum.

Being a parent is hard work and a role that never really ceases despite your children's age, geographical location and life experiences gained along the way.
Being a solo mum for a number of years often saw me playing both the role of mum and dad as I know a lot of single parents out there do. Being the parent, disciplinarian, teacher, confidante and so many other roles that we as parents take on to guide our children into adulthood, can be utterly rewarding and at times bloomin' challenging to say the least! So to all parents, caregivers, grand parents and all those involved in raising a child... I would like to say Happy Belated Father's Day.
Raising a teenager brings about its own unique set of challenges and insights into your once-angelic child. You spend your time guiding them through hormonal changes that sees them turn into mood-swinging creatures that you faintly recognise as the little angel you once had, to you having heart swelling glimpses of the amazing young adult they are becoming. All of this can be done without many thanks or acknowledgement of just how much we as parents give to our kids - not that we of course expect it.
My second eldest child, Hunter, left home last weekend, to spread his young man's wings and find his way in life across the ditch with his dad and big brother. Left behind is a family who will miss him dearly but who are immensely proud of his achievements and his determination to see more of this big wide world. I have been so lucky and privileged to have raised sons that have nearly always been grateful and still end every conversation with "I love you mum" and that is thanks enough for me. Two of our children have now left home, four more to go. I just quietly hope the years start to slow and my nest remains full for a good while longer.
The Whanganui Literary Festival held our latest event Happy Hour with Stephen Daisley on Friday night (Sept 2). Stephen is somewhat of a local lad being raised in Raetihi before slowly working his way over to Perth where he is now based. He has won international awards and acclaim for his books, Traitor and Coming Rain, both of which are available at Paige's Book Gallery. Stephen's candid talk was both stimulating and very humorous, to the delight of the over 60 members of the audience. Paul Brooks was the interviewer extraordinaire who successfully managed to make the normally shy Stephen open up and captivate us all with his down to earth attitude to writing and life. Another wonderful literary event with more in the pipelines, so watch this space.
Have a wonderful week and create some kindness in our community.
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