Inspired

Today I had the privilege of taking 8 of my stars to an event called Youth Summit at the City Hall  organised by Team London and part of the WEday programme. It was a day dedicated to inspiring our young people to create movements for social change in their local, national and international settings. So far so good. 
I  expected a day of chirpy teenagers bouncing around telling the children to organise a bake sale and smile at strangers. Now whilst there were elements of that to the day (plenty of blue t-shirted 'ambassadors' and smiley faces) - what I had forgotten was just how brilliant the young people I teach are. Although the warm up speaker interviewing the room when we got there was overly enthusiastic and a little ambitious asking children for contributions to a conversation when they clearly didn't have a clue what was going on, his heart was in the right place and it laid the foundation for the upbeat engagement that the team expected to see from the children. They settled following a speech from a para-olympian and an amazing performance of poetry (I didn't catch the speakers names so will look them up and let you know) This was followed by warm up games and then a workshop where they had to get busy. 
I had wildly underestimated their grasp on issues that effect them; particularly in the setting they are in,as unlike all of my other teaching jobs, these children are (on the whole) well loved, well rounded and reasonably well off. I somehow thought this would give them a narrow minded and shallow view of problems in the community however they immediately jumped on the idea of inequality and the need to promote unity within our community as things that they wished to focus on. They were able to identify and discuss why housing was such a big issue when it came to inequality and permeating the cycle of injustice. They came up with a clear plan for action and, when asked to present this to the summit at two minutes notice, acted like they had practiced it for weeks. They truly were incredible. They reminded me of me when I was their age. Oh how I wished I had someone to point out how truly wonderful I was. If only I had followed through all of the wildly ambitious plans I concocted to right the worlds wrongs I might have actually made a difference. Now what I have is the opportunity to do this through these children. To give them the push and the guidance to dream big and organise something amazing that they can be proud of. 
I know, with the madness in my own life, I should focus on sorting my own life out first - but the future can't wait. Mine didn't. 

Beautiful rainbow to greet us as we left. 

London Town

City Hall Building

Starting Over

So by the age of thirty your supposed to have it in the bag right? This life gear? Your supposed to be a grown up?
Stability. A home, a husband, summer holidays and a car. A job, money to pay the bills. The husband the kids - icing on the cake. 


Well look at me now. According to my own criteria I would be a failure. All I have is the icing. I am starting over, starting from scratch just this time with three people who rely on me to get it right because I'm supposed to know. Im making a confession - I don't! 

Last week I moved my family into a new flat - well new to us. It wasn't a planned move as such and the first time I have felt my life spin out of control since my very early twenties. But now we're in I have no money to decorate it - to make it homely not even enough for a Christmas tree. But I'm going to do it. I have to. My boys are relying on me to make a home - so by hook or by crook I will make us one. I am going to peruse some charity shops in the hope of picking up some curtains and while they are away this weekend I am going to scrub the place until it shines. So much to do so little time. I'll upload some photos to trace my progress tomorrow.