Author Archives: Jessica Purbrick

Be a rainbow – week 68

~

We’ve been having some fun. Tween Two is stepping out into a new brave world. 

As primary school comes to an end, Tween Two is looking ahead to high school—from 26 children to 170 boys—there is the delight of stepping into the mix of the masses; the diverse; and the languid. 

With this gleeful insight,  it’s hard not to check out of today and bide time. 

I’ve been wanting to use Tween Two’s creativity and sense of adventure to keep him grounded to now, the present. 

The solution? Add a start-up business into the mix. A trip to India last year sparked an interest in playing with fabrics, textures, colours and designs. From this tactile experience has developed a mother—son collaboration. 

Brick Green Designs – a start-up that takes the beige out of boring and adds in pop, colour and design. We have worked together to develop designs and sourced manufacturers that align with our values. We have chosen fabrics that are produced without harming and adding more waste to the world. 

Our launching platform is a crowdfunded kickstarter campaign to get our first commercial production off the ground. 

Success or failure—it doesn’t matter. 

It’s the chance to ignite the creative soul of Tween Two into something tangible, spending time together and leaning in to learn. 

The gift as parents is to teach our children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning (Carol Dweck). 

And that is what I hope I’m doing. 

All love

me

Jessica x 

PS. If you want to travel the journey of Brick Green Designs, please support our kickstarter campaign here. 

mumsnetbloggersnetwork

The Creep of Tweens – week 67

~

Number One Tween has cracked the age and kicked over into his teenage years. Years that will see a veracity of change in his body, mind and soul. It may be profound or filled with profanities. He will emerge a new person; fingers crossed that it is a robust, quirky, interesting and happy soul that arrives at the kitchen table as a 20-something.

Tween Two has announced his arrival at the scene and suggested my focus should be aimed at his stories, his feats and his way of life. I love his openness for this social commentary – is it the Andy Warhol prediction of 15 minutes of fame?

Tween Two is 10, he’s a youngie for Grade Six, the final year of primary school. He’s smart, articulate and curious. He can debate, hold a crowd with his intellect and wit, and deliver the crunch point that nobody else thought of.

He’s not the cool kid at school. Not that keen of team sports, not the social butterfly that oozes friends. His friendships are solid and mature; no fools, no flakes and definitely no fanatics.

But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to play with the cool crowd. The magnetic of those boys with the flicky hair, sporting prowess and more. It’s the same crowd as my days at school back in the 1980’s. Only difference is the interpretation. I, as a tween and teen, was happy with my own beat, style, thoughts and the kids I hung out with – I was troublesome, naughty and led the best of the girls at my private boarding school astray with breakouts and knockabout antics.

As a mother it’s interesting to see how the tweens use their power for good or evil; who wants to be “in the group” and who doesn’t care.

What is it about the “group” that drives such desire to be like that, when we all know a quick whip around at a school reunion tells us the “in group” weren’t the happy, socialised kids we thought them to be.

I do feel the realness of the playground, the endlessness of those lunchtimes when you just don’t quite fit in. When you try but keep getting push out. When you look for friendships but just can’t quite get there.

The advice to all tweens: playgrounds are likely to be the toughest environment you will ever have to be in; there will be really shitty days and days that just don’t seem that bad. Amongst the crappiness there will be stories to share of survival, of wins, of those days when you came out on top.

Hang in there – be kind in the face of unkindness; be resilient in the face of adversity and be true to yourself; whomever that 20-something turns out to be.

Warmly

Jessica x

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful however that words can enlighten or dishearten.
mumsnetbloggersnetwork

In front of the crowd – week 66

~

I spent the week working with an inspiring group of people through Melbourne’s Slow School of Business. We spent the week stripping back our words and rebuilding stories of purpose. This is my story…

When I was 10 I saddled my pony, my mother stuffed two Mars Bars into my pocket and I rode out on a family farm larger than Melbourne; my adventures lasting all day. The rule to be home by dark.

Now I am the mother of ten year old Theodore and his brother Sebastian. Two inner city tweens –that crack of age of nine to 12 from childhood to teenage years. Teenagers in waiting. The world of parenting is packed with prescriptive actions, Wi-Fi blockers and scenarios of fear.

As parents we are fearful of a world that is unknown to us. I seek the courage of my mother to trust my tweens and their street smartness. The smartness of growing up in laneways leaking hookers, syringes and beatboys.

There were no streets in Western New South Wales.

What could possibly go wrong if I packed my boys off with Mar Bars for a day on their bikes? Be home by dark?

Sebastian as a 10 year old took himself to and from school, dragging his little brother through the laneways and trams of Melbourne. Within weeks, neighbourhood parents asked if he could take their children too.

Sebastian became the mother hen of Richmond – with his gaggle of winding kids.

My grit in Sebastian gave parent’s permission to trust. These parents turned their fear of the “white van man” into the courage of the tribe. Are you this parent?

From the fat open spaces of rural Australia to the everyday creak, rush and grunge of inner city Richmond I became the courageous parent. Our nanny resigned – the thought of drudging through the advertising, interviewing and finding someone else was so exhausting. So much easier to push the kids onto the streets!

Trusting my tweens can be tough. Mistakes are made, timelines are missed. The fearful playground parents relish in the regaling of horror stories of snatched children from sidewalks, flashings in the park and online antics.

By having faith in my boys, I have found the courage to let go of my fear; it has allowed me to watch the missteps of my sons, to stretch into the real world with one hand on the apron strings. I have given myself permission to let my sons have the freedom that my mother gave me to explore worlds and universes that didn’t exist five let alone 40 years ago.

It is this time of trust, courage and freedom that will be the strength behind the tricky teens and yucky youths.

Be courageous, be the brave parent.

Warmly

in the library

Jessica x

23 August  2015

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

Stormy clouds – week 65

~

Stormy clouds hung over Tween Two.

In full force he fought the demons that make him crack.break.fall apart.

It was the last week of term. The school production was in full swing with Tween Two taking on a  front and centre role.

He learnt the lines, he sang the songs; solos were practiced and practiced. He examined the life of his character.

The opening night was beyond spectacular. The crowds cheered at the incredible display of 70 children having the time of their lives; the stunning singing, the acting, the words.

The second night arrives; a few mistakes, a missed line, a yawn. Tween Two was primed and ready to deliver his piece. He missed a beat, memory went blank – eyes widened. The cast nudged in, a heart beat, just a fumbled word, phew… the scene moves on and words are remembered.

Sitting in the second row I noticed a physical change. A squaring of shoulders, a face turned to thunder. The tears begin to fall.

My stomach lurched, the play continued.

Its the solo act, the singing of a narrative song. Tween Two steps to the front of the stage, thick with glistening shine, chin out and sings.

The voice is clear, striking, moving. The crowd holds its breath, the tears continue to flow. He does it. He makes it through, not just as a struggle but as a sound byte that delivers one of his best.

Standing ovations for the whole cast and the lumbering thankfulness of a mother.

Backstage I gather my 10 year old into my arms, I wrap him in kisses and take him home.

I am so full-blown proud that he held it together, that he really, really understood what resilience really feels like. Its not just a word tossed about during class time, not just a stamp on a page that ticks the box.

Resilence is a physical, a mental and whole lot of guts to keep going, to stand up and stand out. Its a moment, a time that once strongly felt enables anyone to rise up and be counted.

And my mother pride saw the growing up of Tween Two, his gathering of inner strength and the breaking away of the boy that stood in his way.

The toughness of the moment led to a deep sleep that gave silver lining in the morning.

 

Warmly

in the library

Jessica x

5 July  2015

 

Ps. On the cold June night when my second child flooded his face with tears in the middle of the school production, I did everything I could not to rush onto the stage to cuddle him. To watch your young child soldier on, to sing an incredible piece whilst flooding the floor with his tears of inner despair and disappointment was heart wrenching.

Reflecting back on this moment I still feel slightly sick. I’m also incredibly proud of his strength to continue on – I wonder what I would have done if it was me?

As parents in the thick of parenting we can forget that our children are tough, or can be tough in circumstances we can’t predict. We are lucky to be watchers and to share their path of discovery.

Merciful holidays…. and it begins all again next week.

What toughness have your children shown you?

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

A lone – week 64

~

I’m the lone female in the house, excluding our 18 month old Corgi Coco.

Coco is a definite kindred spirit and a lovely welcoming voice when I arrive home, and she has a perceptiveness that frankly scares me.

That aside, I am a lone in a house of two tweens, husband, rabbit and two gold fish (gender unknown!)

Tween Two is coming online. He is about to turn 10 and is showing the spirit and soul of someone firmly enamoured about social justice. The Prime Minister has become a pen friend, well friend is not the word, more a debriefer of the injustices coming through the Australian Government at this time.

This coming of age, of double digits feels strange, a growing up – yet so young.

I wondered where I was at 10? Tramping the plains of western NSW on a farm bigger than most cities, fat blue skies and the solace and knowing of being alone. Naive, yes! No exposure to the technologies of the day (were there any in the 1970’s?) although my parents did have a telex machine…

It’s the ability to grab and use any technology, to accept that it will be honest and good; to signup without thought of where all these details are stored, regurgitated and used for more advertising; targeting directly into inboxes.

Its not frightening, its simply overwhelming at times. As a parent of the 2015’s having grown a teenage life so far from this, it can be hard to keep up, to stay not ahead but simply on-par with what our 10 year olds are getting into.

We have open conversations about what tools are being used, about email addresses used to sign up; names and passwords.

As that lone female having the voice and keeping the voice across the growing up of boys is challenging and unique.

When the everydayness of the technology, I revert to the most natural of tactics. My most powerful cut through comes in the morning, the early hours when Tweens (still!) wander sleepily into the parental bed for a cuddle before their full awakens draws them back into a world that I don’t belong.

This is the true time of togetherness that no technology, age or lived in world of today will remove or encroach. Long may it last.

Warmly

in the library

Jessica

1 June 2015

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

Rolling across the calendar – week 63

~

Easter is rolling across the calendar and Tweens One and Two have lovingly stamped in their requests for the Easter bunny – should he still be visiting our house. Fortunately visit or not our pet rabbit Scamp (male, not the cuddly type) will create magic on the day!

Scamp in the garden

With Easter comes the end of term one – the first term of high school for One and a touch of senior leadership in junior school for Tween Two.

Tween One’s interim school report tells stories of “being connected to all the students, embracing school life and all it has to offer”. But what does this say about home – there is anger, filthy looks and scowling negativity.

I’m dipping into my resources – from Dr Spock* to Blessings of a skinned knee, to Raising Boys and my recent edition Tricky Teens.

The “attitude” I read comes from cortisol – the stress hormone that is released with adrenaline, making tweens snappy, edgy and antsy says teen expert Andrew Fuller. And given Tween One is heading into his 13th birthday, I’m thinking there is a mass of cortisol bouldering through his system.

The cure? Time and patience with some family rituals and routines such as eating together with conversation and no distractions, checking in on the sugar intake and upping the water. And of course sleep – removing the technology at least 1/2 hour before bedtime to allow the brain to begin the process of sleep.

What is all this negativity like for Tween Two and the rest of the family? It’s awful, but that’s for another post.

Happy Easter if this is your thing, happy holidays for Australian’s who tread the last of the summer days, and – those in the northern hemisphere – bold into spring with glee.

Warmly

in the library

 

 

 

Jessica

29 March 2015

*Yes I realise Dr Spock being a baby expert can’t offer much guidance about tweens but I just thought it could be something from the baby days…

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

One month in – week 62

~

It’s been a month of new adventures. Tween One has hit his new school with a blast of smiles, kindness and reaching out to new friends. And the tweens that have walked through our front door have been wonderful young boys on the cusp of a teenage life.

Back in the school yard, Tween Two has been dealing with a new enemy. Faced with a burgeoning passion and empathy for Australia’s growing population of refugees and asylum seekers – in particular the number of children now caught up in the detention system – Tween Two is struggling to fathom his life of freedom and those in Australia who are barred from entry.

It’s a tough gig to sell a nine year old who is articulate, well read and up on the nuances of government policy. His progressive school is fostering his desire to ask questions and importantly act. But how to act in this case is very tough indeed.

As a parent, I aim to harness the desire to seek justice for those that can’t (or unable), and I’m proud of the stance that Tween Two is taking. It does however poise some interesting antics in the playground with the wild and varied stance taken by children and adults (this is a passionate issue for many people in Australia).

How does Tween Two seek to understand that some people think its ok to put children behind bars?

This is one issue that Andrew Fuller’s Tricky Teens can’t help me with. Can you?

Warmly

in the library

 

 

 

Jessica

12 February 2015

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

Starting out – week 61

~

The school holidays are coming to an end and the Tween is about to launch into his first year of secondary school. It’s an exciting time for all of us. In the throws of this excitement, number two child has kicked over from child to tween – there are now two in a house of two! And it’s catching on.

Despite their tween antics, the boys do have a sense of humour. My christmas gifts were a pile of books from Tricky Teens to believe in yourself (with a few 1950’s themed “homemaker craft” books thrown in). A mixed message of “save me from myself” and “learn to sew”? I’m thinking we’re all going to be learning lots this year.

Holiday reading

Holiday reading from the Tweens

With Tricky Teens tucked in my bag alongside The Third Space, the coming weeks will open new thoughts and possibilities as we jointly take this parenting and tween pathway.

I think my biggest challenge this year will be balancing the stretching boundaries of Tween One with the nurturing that he needs. And the resilience of both of us to get through the ups, downs and carousel we have landed on in 2015.  With Tween Two coming online – its adding another fun ball into the mix.

I’m strong in the knowledge that I’m not alone in following the parenting journey…

in the library

 

 

 

Jessica

26 January 2015

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

It’s over – week 60

~

It’s over. Seven years of primary (junior) school ended on a bright sunny Wednesday afternoon.

On the way out the school gate, the Tween got to say goodbye to one of the most influential teachers in his 12 years of learning. MrsQ stepped into the Tweens life when he was five, entering prep year (kindergarten). She taught him so many life long skills – from the obvious (counting, reading, social) but importantly a connectivity to a community beyond his family.

20141216_153850

MrsQ with the Tween

It’s these outside family influences that will leave our tweens, teens and young adults in good stead as they face the world.

Having hung around the same primary school for seven years – there’s been tears and laughter, with way too much time in the principals office – moving on from this community has made me reflect on the dimensions that have become so important.  Most parents recognise that no schooling is perfect; that often the battles seem pointless and primitive – however what we do see is the stretching and growing of young children in small safe ponds. By pushing boundaries and making mistakes, not only do our children gain the gift of resilience we too as parent learn to trust in our child’s ability to bounce back and become the amazing tweens they are.

As we head into the week of Christmas and New Year, I wish you all a safe and prosperous time. Families and tweens can be challenging however by sticking together as a community that shares kindness, thoughts and a pathway beyond the drowning of everyday, we can make it through. I leave this year knowing that we can all go beyond being kind to show great kindness to others.

All love from my family to yours.

20141218_081922

From my family to yours

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jessica

20 December 2014

PS. As we head into 2015 and all the fun that the first year of high school will bring the Tween, I have placed a “jar of joy” on the shelf; I hope you do too.

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.

The last times – week 59

~

I busted my ankle. Frankly what a shocker but every cloud is lined with silver. This (painful) downtime has allowed me to reflect on the seven years of primary (junior) school that is coming to an end.

I’ve been thinking about my involvement in the school life – from the school board to the playground antics – and how over that time there has been some real hot highs with the Tween and gut wrenching lows.

The beginning of life at school with so much learning and stretching – the desire to read so he could work out what our local graffiti artists were writing across our laneways (some classy stuff for sure!) – through to the top end of school frustrations at having to re-do work that the teacher rightfully said was “not good enough”.

The Tween has always had a fractious relationship with the Principal – a mutual feeling I think! – that I believe has been healthy in allowing him to work through the dynamics that as adults we deal with so frequently. By figuring out for himself, the Tween has developed a healthy attitude to responsibility for the good things and the times that he makes the wrong decisions –”the consequences of actions”.

As we enter the countdown of the last weeks of school, its been a challenge to keep up the motivation of learning and purpose. I so get it! I grew out of my primary school a whole year before secondary, which lead to frustrations and boredom.

For our Tween, he see’s the glitter of his new school – the gold tassels and bling of a bigger environment, new friends, on-site swimming pools, space, sport, language… and on it goes. There is no way the interest of primary school can keep up with that!

However until that final school bell at 1pm on Wednesday 17 December (which co-insides with Coco the Corgis – the Tweens dog – first birthday. What a birthday present for Coco!) it’s vital to keep him connected to the remaining days.

The main focus for us has been responsibility. Whilst he gets himself to and from school, we have looked to extend that into other areas; including coming up with ideas of how he will get to his new school next year (which will involve travelling in part with his younger brother).

And really, I would simply like the Tween to savour the moment – be present in the excitement of today.

All love

JPH_Mar2014_smiling

Jessica

19 November 2014

http://www.mumsnet.com/bloggers-network

Comments are always welcome. Please be mindful 
however that words can enlighten or dishearten.