I'll be honest, I've never joined in with this linky before as I have never felt I have anything worthwhile to say compared to the other thought provoking posts. As this week's quote is
"Rules are meant to be broken" I really couldn't resist!
Anyone who knows me will know that I am a little unconventional. Although I stay on the right side of the law I wouldn't say I conform to the norm. From a young age I wanted to work with animals. I was very lucky to go to a secondary school with goats. For the first two and a half years I spent all my free time in the goat shed. Break time, lunch time, after school, holidays and even Christmas day I was up there. They were great and I loved the uncomplicated relationship with them.
Unfortunately, the teacher who owned them left and took the goats with her. They weren't replaced and school became a very bleak, boring total waste of time for me. There were no subjects that interested me so I started to bunk off. One of my end of year reports says "Would love to comment on Kats progress but I haven't seen her since September." It still makes me chuckle even though I know it probably shouldn't.
I went to college and studied animal care for several years and worked in some great places. Bristol Zoo being one of them. I then got a job with horses and threw myself into that until having Big made me come up for air.
Even as a parent I didn't follow the rules particularly. Now it is called "Child led parenting" but back then I just didn't know what I was doing other than making a rod for my own back. I did ok and Big is a lovely lad (when he's not being a typical teen!).
It is not that I don't respect authority. I feel there need to be rules and we have them here too. I do feel that if we were all to do the same thing we may as well become sheep! I believe in following your instincts so that is what I try to do.
I love my kids and they are a wonderful part of my life. As parents, I think we forget that they are just that, a part of our lives. There are many who criticize for wanting to nurture ourselves as individuals. Everyone is different and we need to remember that. I need a life outside my boys. I need adult conversation and new experiences otherwise I just feel like a work horse, here to serve my ever growing family. That results in depression. I can't give my kids what I don't have. If I'm not happy or enthusiastic and have no sense of adventure, they won't have it either. If I have new experiences I will want to share them with the boys or give them similar experiences of their own. I also hope it will help them see they can do many things as a parent and not just have to fit into a stereotypical role.
I'm not sure if I have wandered off the subject a bit but hey, Rules are meant to be broken!!
Unfortunately, the teacher who owned them left and took the goats with her. They weren't replaced and school became a very bleak, boring total waste of time for me. There were no subjects that interested me so I started to bunk off. One of my end of year reports says "Would love to comment on Kats progress but I haven't seen her since September." It still makes me chuckle even though I know it probably shouldn't.
I went to college and studied animal care for several years and worked in some great places. Bristol Zoo being one of them. I then got a job with horses and threw myself into that until having Big made me come up for air.
Even as a parent I didn't follow the rules particularly. Now it is called "Child led parenting" but back then I just didn't know what I was doing other than making a rod for my own back. I did ok and Big is a lovely lad (when he's not being a typical teen!).
It is not that I don't respect authority. I feel there need to be rules and we have them here too. I do feel that if we were all to do the same thing we may as well become sheep! I believe in following your instincts so that is what I try to do.
I love my kids and they are a wonderful part of my life. As parents, I think we forget that they are just that, a part of our lives. There are many who criticize for wanting to nurture ourselves as individuals. Everyone is different and we need to remember that. I need a life outside my boys. I need adult conversation and new experiences otherwise I just feel like a work horse, here to serve my ever growing family. That results in depression. I can't give my kids what I don't have. If I'm not happy or enthusiastic and have no sense of adventure, they won't have it either. If I have new experiences I will want to share them with the boys or give them similar experiences of their own. I also hope it will help them see they can do many things as a parent and not just have to fit into a stereotypical role.
I'm not sure if I have wandered off the subject a bit but hey, Rules are meant to be broken!!
Animals are great and it's awesome that you got to do your dream job.
ReplyDeleteThe current fad for labelling everything drives me a bit mad. You do what you do to get by without going bonkers. X
I love the line, you can't give your kids what you don't have. So true and so important. I think that rules have their place, but I completely agree that we need to be individuals, not sheep. Great post Kat, and I'm so pleased you've joined in with #ThePrompt x
ReplyDeletePS. A weekend of birthday celebrations and Father's Day, this is the first chance I've had to comment! Sorry!