Woman and Child First

A Greater Good

Although I haven’t seen good research to substantiate this theory that mothers’ happiness directly influences the happiness of their children, a fairly extensive body of research has established a substantial link between mothers who feel depressed and “negative outcomes” in their children, like acting out and other behavior problems. As you might imagine, when we mothers feel depressed it is not good for our children’s happiness. -Christine Carter, Ph.D.,

Yet another reason to look after yourself. I repeat, to nourish and nuture oneself as a woman, a mother is NOT a luxury, it's an essential.

The above snippet comes from a blog that looks closely at the "Science of Raising Happy Children".

Can't remember how I stumbled on it, but I'm really enjoying reading from it. Over to the sidebar for you, Half Full Blogversations!

Painting by Kim Richardson

What haunts...Our Secrets

Inspired by my own family secrets, what haunts... is an interactive art installation that explores secrets and their universality. Viewers respond and participate by reading and adding, in anonymity, their own - often-intimate - secrets to the installation. The varied secrets evoke sadness, horror, shock, humor, and reassurance. They "are riveting to read, telling stories of abortion, adoption, and affairs mixed with more universal confessions, like, 'my heart is broken and I am terrified.'"  - Cathy McLaurin

The artist reports people are strongly drawn to this art piece. Probably because all of us keep secrets.

I was taught to teach children not to keep certain secrets (like that they are being abused).

Secrets can be a torment and a burden.

Many of us keep secrets for decades. Many die with our secrets still buried deep in our psyches and in our hearts...aching for release.

But then...secrets are so tantillizing aussi.

So it's intriguing isn't it, that while we are compelled to keep secrets, this piece of art shows we are just as driven to expose them. The curtained "room" where the participants pen their secrets anonymously becomes a confessional.

Aren't we interesting, complex creatures?

Walking City Dress (Breathing)

Stunning!

by Ying Gao

Found on dear ada.

Take a close look at the fabric, It's like a breathing form of snow and ice together. Just beautiful.

And the video...Very Montreal...Very yummy.

Grace Discovered

I'm a very visual person and I actively seek out images of beauty, interest and delight. Such things captivate my imagination and can literally turn an ordinary day into something with a lovely twist.

Since losing my favourite blogger, Theresa Duncan, to her suicide last July, I've been scouring the net for blogs to help satisfy that need for visual romancing. (Theresa was a genius at this art, as well as an intellectual giant).

In my hunting process, I've come across a blog called dear ada, the author of which always features beautiful pieces of art that fill in my day very happily thank you.

Today, still being on holidays, I found myself with time to languish around the dear ada site and find that the author "birdie"has been struggling with diabetes for 20 years. She speaks about this disease with eloquence and indeed grace in her other site.

She has published her own book Aiming For Grace: 20 Things I Know About Diabetes. (Gorgeous cover).

I really loved reading birdie's posts about her life with diabetes. Having had gestational diabetes when pregnant with Ben, I know something of it, but certainly not what it's like for 20 years on end. The theme of these posts can be summed up in one word - inspiration.

This is the beauty of blogging I think, a person's world can become known, even accessible and in birdie's case, the beauty and struggle of that world is intertwined in a fabulous way.

What a marvelous and interesting woman.

My Continental Shelf Is Bigger Than Yours

"Australia has extended its continental shelf under an agreement with the United Nations.

'I am pleased to announce that Australia, the largest island in the world, has just been dramatically increased in size,' Resources Minister Martin Ferguson told reporters in Canberra...

The UN had found that Australia's territory should be extended by 2.5 million square kilometres, he said."

- Link

So if there is oil, gas or any other juicy bits and pieces found in the extra 2.5 million k's, does that mean other countries will have to kiss OZ government arse? 

Like OZ governments have done to the US and Britain for the last 200 years?

Yeah!

Girls Into Women

"Are we are losing the war for girls' self-esteem? We are fighting the media, popular culture, teenage stresses and peer pressure for the minds, values and habits of our girls. Girls' self-esteem plummets around age nine:

• Girls face depression twice as often as boys by age 15.
• 20–40% of girls aged ten have started dieting.
• Girls as young as 10 confront "teen" issues such as sex.
• Eating disorders among the most common mental health problems in girls.
• Low self-esteem leads to dangerous sexual behavior.

The good news is that despite these pressures, parents have more influence on their kids than they think." - article from NYU Child Study Centre.

I always love to read that last sentence. Let's be positive and firm with our girls. Let's show them how it is to live as a strong and self-determined person. They need that from their parents now more than ever. This article has some good reminders about creating confidence within our daughters.

The strongest messages come from us, their parents. This is good to remember!

Regardez Vous Le Chat

Le Chat de la Concierge by Janine Niepce 1957.

I do appreciate a black cat. Particularly one sitting in a French street in 1957.

C'est bonne!

Via

Holidays Are For The Idle

I have been lounging on the lounge and eating well. I've taken solitary walks on my deserted local beach. I've not talked to a great deal of people. The cats have been good company.

The sky when viewed for long pauses, speaks very quietly I noticed.

My kids are back from their father's home today. My mother and sister arrived as well. It's been a great day. Full of showers and blue skies, warm moments then chills through cracks in the garage. Home cooked soup and hearty appetites.

This is my holiday so far.

Outstandingly Fair In Her Field

"If you want something, you really have to fight for it. I don't think anything should be easy. If you're determined, you will become the writer or the musician or the dancer. If you want to do anything, you will do it."

- Margaret Olley

Ranunculus and Plums pictured.

Here Is Something For Your HeartMind

May your heart skip a bit and your mind slow down when the eyes rest on this piece: Pink Berries.

Found here

Taken by This Person.