Mindful moments

Who am I?

~ Nicky M ~ 4 Comments

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I am…

…sometimes grumpy, sad, insecure, afraid.

…sometimes excitable, caring, fun, happy.

…sometimes full of life, looking forward, seeing the opportunities in each day.

…sometimes weary, lethargic, frustrated, can’t be bothered.

…sometimes loved up, wanting to spend time with hubby, pretending we’re grown ups.

…sometimes afraid, want to hide away from the world, not deal with anything.

…sometimes mom, guiding, supporting, education my beautiful children.

…sometimes lonely, overworked, feel a failure.

…sometimes enjoy good company, smiling, laughing, making memories, having fun.

…sometimes I need to be alone, quiet, reflective, in my own space.

…sometimes I get dressed up to the nines, sometimes I lounge around in my pj’s.

This is me.

Who are you?

Monthly Challenge: Creating Poetry From My Playlists

~ Nicky M ~ 11 Comments

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Looking for inspiration to create poetry – look no further than your iPod!

Seriously!

I thought I’d have a bit of fun with this month’s challenge as it’s the holidays.

I got the idea for the playlist shuffle game from Kristian. If you’ve not played before you basically put an iPod playlist on shuffle and write down the first line of the first ten songs that play to create a poem.

This is my gym playlist so it’s pretty heavy and a little risqué! But it’s actually not a bad poem…

She’s a steel thrill suicide

Am I going insane?

I’ve been thinkin’ ’bout, thinkin’ ’bout sex

Give me the flammable light

Naked pictures on my telephone

Hey, how long have you been crawling with the sick and appaling?

No ones laughing now

My life is perfect, so you believe

Each day is a war

I did my time and I want out

 

Songs

Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide – Shinedown

Your Betrayal – Bullet For My Valentione

Anything Goes – Guns ‘n Roses 

Something From Nothing – Foo Fighters

Gonna Get Mine – Halestorm

You Have Come to the Right Place – Sixx:A.M

Gone Sovereign – Stone Sour

Dot Your Eyes – Five Finger Death Punch

Chaos – Like a Storm

Psychosocial – Slipknot 

Have you ever done anything like this to create poetry? I’d love to know below.

Check back next week and I’ll have another one for you.

Nicky xo

Why You Should Say Thank You to Children

~ Nicky M ~ 13 Comments

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Anyone who works with children will understand the roller coaster ride of emotions you experience over the course of a school year.

Whilst I love my job, working with children can make you feel tired, sad, worried, stressed, daunted, unfunny, a failure, out of touch, old, emotional and rubbish at your job.

Sad but true.

However, you learn so much when you work with children. You get to see things from their many perspectives – straightforward and complicated, innocent and streetwise, selfish and caring.

I’ve learned over the years to take children just as they are.

By adopting this approach you allow yourself to see the world through their eyes. Not to judge them, but to understand why they may behave a certain way, gain insight into their experiences of life so far and to appreciate the little things they do in all their simplicity.

Here are a few examples of the wonderful moments I’ve noticed when with children:

Excitement – is what you experience when say you will get the Lego out during wet play

Generosity – is being given ten drawings by the same child

Happiness – the face that literally lights up when you thank them for something they did

Motivation – children working together to tidy up quickly so we have time for a game

Creativity – 30 children, a whole afternoon, plain old white paper and a box of crayons…

Compassion – half the class offering to take the child who has fallen over to first aid

Appreciation – the handmade card at the end of the year

Humour – because kids are funny. Period

Wisdom – need to know anything about Minecraft? Ask a child.

Courage – for some, just showing up every day

Friendship – navigating the trials and tribulations of the school playground

Confidence – anyone can blossom with a little support

It is a privilege to work with children and young people. Hard, but a privilege none the less.

So I want to say thank you to all the amazing children out there.

I never miss an opportunity to say it, and I want you to say it too.

Children are fabulous educators and the positives far out way the negatives.

Thank them for all they are teaching you.

Share your stories of what lessons children have taught you below. I can’t wait to read them.