Hi friends,

It’s been a whirlwind few weeks here, in the UK generally, and in my own personal microcosm. There have been tectonic shifts in the Government, while my son shrugged off the final remnants of toddlerhood, seemingly in the blink of an eye.

(As always, all opinions and typos here are my own.)

What’s on my mind: a letter to my son on the day he turned three

To my beautiful, kind, funny boy.

Last week, on the 4th of July, you wanted to fly a kite.

I had been anxious all day. All week. Since who can remember when, really? Carrying the weight of all the “what-if”s in the world had been all-consuming.

The wind blustered, matching my inner unrest, but the sun was shining and it beamed on your face, so golden and so pure.

So, out came the kite. It rose in the sky, carried along by the harmony of your squeals of delight. As it did, my heart lightened, the tension in my jaw released, and I exhaled for the first time in too long.

I had begun to doubt whether a spirit could soar when weighed down so heavily, but here was proof. We lifted our gaze, your Dad and I, squinting in the light. We unfurled our hunched shoulders, receiving the warmth like a soothing balm.

Running to launch the taut fabric frame into the air, I found myself held back by the flip flops on my feet, so I kicked them off with joyful abandon. My soles sank into the grass and I welcomed each vigorous, verdant blade as it pushed itself up into the spaces between my toes. Up towards the sun.

Life seeks light. Light nurtures life.

I’ll never forget the 4th of July, 2024. Three days before you turned three.

It was the day we voted for a more hopeful future for your generation, and then left the polling station finally feeling light enough to go and fly a kite in the sun.

I love you.

Mum

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What I’m writing (the accountability bit)

• The micro-essay I wrote in my last email really made me think. Condensing my thoughts on social media into such a short piece helped to distil the essence of the problem I have with the “social” ecosystem. I’m re-evaluating my place on many platforms and working on a re-organisation of how I use them to connect with others. I’m writing a longer piece on this which I’ll share soon but, in short: yes, I have repurposed my long abandoned Instagram account into one that will allow me to connect with the communities I want to be a part of. Come and say hi, if you’d like to!

• I’m waiting to hear if I’ve made it to the final round of NYC Midnight’s short story competition ,taking place on the 27th July (I’ll know on the 24th). Excitingly, I've booked a mini writing retreat to work on either my submission for this or, in the event I don't make it through, another equally challenging but much longer form writing project. More on that soon!

• I’m going to submit two entries to the Inspired by Art Flash Fiction 2024 contest run by Globe Soup. I’ve been ruminating on ideas and will commit some time to drafting them before the Deadline: 15th July 2024

• I’ve started drafting a submission for Motherlore magazine, that’s next after Globe Soup. I’ll take a few more hours in the day if anyone has them going spare! Theme: BODY, Deadline: 15th September 2024

Building my “village”: events and interactions and real, other people, oh my!

There's a direct, inverse correlation between how much I care about something and how articulately I'm able to convey that passion. It's frustrating and often leads me to stay silent in conversations I desperately want to be a part of. So, in the spirit of finding my voice, I recently joined my first Parents For Future (Bristol & Bath) call.

The group takes a pragmatic yet joyful approach to campaigning for change for our childrens’ sake, evident especially in the lead up to and following the election result in Bristol Central (congratulations Carla!). I'm delighted to have found them and am committed to feeling the fear and doing it anyway when it comes to demanding what we deserve - a safe, equitable, sustainable future for all.

There is so much work to be done. My first step: introducing myself to my new MP who, even though she didn’t get my vote in the end, seems like a pretty decent human being - huzzah!

What I’m reading/ newsletters I love

I want to use this space to give a virtual high-five to other writers and creatives whose emails drop into my inbox like long-awaited sunbeams. These aren’t paid-for promotions, I just want to shine that light a little further for others to bask in for a moment over their morning/afternoon/midnight coffee. :)

• Rebecca Radford Writes - I can’t remember when I first discovered Rebecca, but I do know it was her Intentional Mum podcast and blog that drew me in. I love her authenticity, and was inspired when I saw that she had taken the (from where I’m standing, scary) leap into writing fiction. She recently shared a short story entitled The Veil and I loved it. I’m new to reading romances but Rebecca makes me want to read more!

If you enjoyed this newsletter and would like to help it thrive (i.e. keep my impostor syndrome at bay) then please consider subscribing and sharing with others who might enjoy it too! You can also reply directly to this email if you have any comments or questions, I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time, folks, whenever that will be! (Mum life…)

AmyElise