The five year old says Santa isn’t real. I tell him this is rocky ground – that Father Christmas deals not with those who disbelieve. Elves – sharp of eye and ear – hear and see it all. Walk the walk and talk the talk – or Christmas morning shall be bleak indeed.
He back tracks then – says it is a joke. Wishes not to put this logic to the test. But my heart sinks, and I wonder how sure he really is – what older, wiser, bloody child, has enlightened my son too soon.
Leave Christmas well alone. Burst not the glittering bubble of a little boy. Keep face before a truth which cannot be untold. A threshold to all that is real – and ordinary – in our world. I overcompensate, in my race to smooth damage already done. May it be enough.
Five and the whole of the moon. Too small – too cruel – and too soon.
I wrote that a year ago, but this morning – 1st December – house awake since 6am with a little boy who can contain his Christmas excitement not a moment longer, I think I can relax. Our daughter is 2 – on the cusp of Christmas and all the magic that it brings. If my son did have his doubts last year, his baby sister has firmly pulled him back into the land of make believe.
And what a quick year it has been, I can hardly believe we are fast approaching 2014. By the time you read this Stephanie of Beautiful Misbehaviour will be due to play host to her third virtual open mic night. The final one of the year boasts a frosty winter theme and has attracted her biggest number of participants to date. I love taking part in these evenings of live poetry and prose reading and would encourage you all to make a resolution to give it a try in the new year. In the meantime you can watch live at 9.30pm on Wednesday 4th December via Stephanies YouTube Channel.
Another growing success story is Verily Victoria Vocalises and her weekly Prose For Thought linky. The number of bloggers linking up their writing is growing week on week and it’s a pleasure to read and discover new voices joining our regular group of poetry and prose writers. A fabulous opportunity that I have to mention is the Anthology on Motherhood which is due to be published by The Emma Press in early 2014. Submissions for the anthology are open until 16th December and after being impressed by the high standard of writing she received for the ‘Picks’ series of pamphlets, Emma is very keen to receive poetry from our Britmums community.
On that note I’ve been spoiled for choice this round-up and have enjoyed more than ever reading your poetry of the last few weeks. Wicked World of Lucas had me laughing out loud with her highly entertaining The Grandparents CV, whilst Supper & Syntax served several courses hot in her brilliant flash fiction piece Dinner. If The School Run has you feeling like you’ve done a days work by 9am then don’t miss this hilarious observation from Writing Bubble.
Secrets Of The Sandpit wonderfully brought a poetry writing crash course to her weekly mother and baby group in Write Your Own Poetry, whilst Verily Victoria Vocalises brought tears to the eyes of many in her moving posts in recognition of Anti Bullying Week – I Give Up by 14 year old Izzy Dix and Firework subsequently written by her English teacher after her tragic death, are a moving wake up call to the utterly unacceptable bullying affecting so many vulnerable children and teenagers in our society today.
Mrs Teepot wrote of her own journey through bullying while Kate On Thin Ice described a sudden and unwelcome Wake Up Call. Dragonsfly Poppy spent a great deal of November scribbling away for #NaNoWriMo, and crewcutandnewt endured a thoroughly uncomfortable visit to the Hamlet in Wake Up And Smell The Coffee.
Beautiful Misbehaviour explored the sensitive area of sharing work which is deeply personal in her unsettling and atmospheric piece Bones, while I tapped into real life personal emotion to embark on a series of letter writing in Letters From Another Life.
Crazy With Twins described a glorious Autumn Morning, whilst Older Mum In A Muddle played host to a 3 day celebration of the season in the return of her fabulous One Week. Champagne is perhaps the most beautiful of all the posts linked to One Week, but there are so many gorgeous pieces of writing linked up I’d urge you to step in and take a wander through.
Emily’s Page gave us a bittersweet taste of regret in Ghosts Of You, whilst Lovely2CU took an honest and refreshing look at the reality of Christmas Day in Paper Chains. Celestial Musings Of A 5 Year Old & Her Mother gave us a brief glimpse of an unbreakable bond from Life As It Is, and The Lamb Always Wins was a powerful account of an extraordinary walk in the woods alongside Mummy From The Heart.
BlueBeretMum released both her ebook and printed versions of the wonderful Letters to Peanut, whilst Supper & Syntax took delivery of her fabulous The Affair Of Love. Having designed artwork to accompany these anthologies and having read their content prior to release I can vouch for just how brilliant they both are.
Word Bohemia published Issue 1 of their online journal in the form of a truly beautiful illustrated book of winter. With artwork by Amanda Fullwood and featuring writing from amongst others, BlueBeretMum, Beautiful Mishehaviour and myself, this is a gorgeous edition not to be missed.
So I’ll leave you to digging out the Christmas decorations and discovering that last years fairy lights no longer work. Victoria will be back for the first round-up of 2014. Meanwhile have a fabulous Christmas and I’ll look forward to reading more of your writing in the coming year.
About Helen Braid
Helen is a graphic designer who is lucky to live on the beautiful Scottish West Coast with her husband and their 2 young children. Since launching her blog All At Sea, Helen has focused on developing her poetry and prose. She is inspired by all things coastal and has a 5 year plan to relocate to the beach. Helen writes about family life and is author of blog series ‘Stories Of The Sea’, which is a whimsical collection of nautical tales. She has a quiet belief in angels and tries, whenever possible, to recognise beauty in the stuff of everyday.
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Emily Page
Wednesday 4th of December 2013
Thanks for catching me in your round up! I look forward to visiting the others and meeting some more parent poets. I think there's a few of us out there but we're not that easy to find :) Round ups like this are perfect. I love your poem about Santa too. That's one of my greatest fears at the moment is that an older friend or cousin will burst the bubble too soon. Wishing you & yours a very festive season of believing x