And so the day has come, the kids finally go back to school! We have all been a bit anxious about it but now the day has finally come I just really can’t wait to have a bit of space. It’s also International Women’s Day so a good day to put the onus back on me.
Getting them ready for school was a bit of a reminder of the bits of actual school I’m not about to throw a party about: Get your shoes on! Go to the toilet! Have you got your water bottle? What do you mean you start at 9.10, I thought it was 9.30… everyone run!! That kind of thing.
But once they were safely dropped off at the gate, there was definitely relief. Not all singing all dancing relief. Just a reminder that I now had six hours to get shit done without someone asking me for a snack or some quick-fire mental arithmetic so that they can be Timestable Rockstar of Week. They should also designate 8 March as Happy Make Your Own Lunch Just for You Day from now on.
Back at the ranch, we’ve still got work going on with the house so I didn’t feel fully able to breathe and the minute I stepped through the door I felt like there was so much housework to catch up with. Where does it all come from? How did it get done before?
Anyway after 3 more loads of washes I finally made it out into my studio to finish sending some samples of my work to a potential new client, catch up on book work and get some ideas down about some writing workshops I’ve been thinking about. Also the emails. The pile up thereof.
By the time I was rolling with it and fired up to do a full day’s work it was time to get the kids (that old chestnut – what does that even mean?) and so donned my parenting hat once again and went to pick up my lovelies. I did miss them and was relieved that school put on some fun activities such as inviting a circus troop in to perform some juggling and fire-throwing! They definitely need easing back in.
Back home we then wished my dad a happy birthday. On zoom but better than nothing. I cannot wait to see them in person. Fingers crossed that we will be able to travel up there in April/May at some point. And finally to International Women’s Day, which my friend Jen celebrated with a lovely online soiree for some of the fabulous women in her life and work with her gallery French Riviera.
So nice to reconnect with old friends and artists I haven’t seen for so long. Hear about their experiences of the pandemic and the different geographical situations. There was much hilarity over the role of urban parks and how they are utilised during lockdowns. Also discussions about the serious issue of the government still not supporting the arts enough. And for me, my narrative of trying to work and homeschool/deal with kids’ emotions at the same time.
Everyone has a different version of the last few months and indeed year. Everyone’s version is valid and also has similar themes. We’ve all felt lonely, anxious, stressed and fed up. We’ve also all found solace and hope in the little things, the rituals and most definitely nature and art.
Just before our call, I was trying to share my own take of International Women’s Day but had all but run out of energy by that point. I then spotted a picture I took of a dandelion a few weeks ago on Chingford Plain, which summed it up perfectly.
I always feel joy when I see these little fellas (that’s the phrase that always comes to mind) pop up in parks and road verges and even my lawn and borders. Such a bright sunny yellow. Such a ragged skirt of petals, symbolic of a plant that’s wild and free. Head opening to the sun and closing up when it gets dark or when it rains or is overcast, much as we humans do. So often referred to as a weed but with so many nutritious and healing uses.
A ‘yellow-flowered, tooth-leaved tap-rooted, persistent ubiquitous and tenacious perennial’ that ‘receives high praise in the canon of herbals’ begins my ode to the dandelion in The Heritage Herbal. First recorded in the ancient Tang Materia Medica (659BC) it is now known to be rich in protein, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, C, E and B and can be beneficial as a diuretic, detoxifier and skin tonic. The blooms also provide an ideal pollen and nectar pit-stop for bees, while the puffball clocks are inspiring for kids’ play and botanical crafting.
Dandelions are also such prolific self-seeders, creating communities of lion-like flowers everywhere they go, it’s hard not to be impressed, even if you do eventually pull them up in a garden tidying moment.
So here’s to dandelions and to all the most amazing women in my life. Beautiful, useful, communal, collective, collaborative, golden and wild. When times get tough, be a dandelion. And you can quote me on that.