Grace

I’ve been struggling a lot lately with feeling like everything’s going to hell, and it feels a bit embarrassing to admit, but your comment actually got me a little teary. You hit on a lot of issues I’ve been struggling with in a very realistic way.

My dad had an incredibly doomed outlook on life, and spent most of my childhood either sombrely telling me he regret having children because the world was terrible and only getting worse, or howling about how the four horsemen were coming and we would burn because we were all sinners. I don’t want to pass the fear and hopelessness that his way of thinking and acting instilled in me onto my son, and it’s a strong motivator to work on my mindset. Like you, I’m of the biased opinion that the world is a better place with my son in it, and I want him to grow up knowing I feel that way, and with hope of making meaningful change, rather than being paralysed into inaction right from the get go.

I’m slowly reaching a place where l can let myself feel the disappointment and fear, but try to counter it with the knowledge that feeling totally hopeless means I won’t make any good change, however small. It’s reassuring to know so many of us are together in those feelings, but persevere regardless.

I suppose she’s right, but not in a cutesy way - I have friends living paycheck to paycheck who push themselves to near-bankruptcy with loans to host these ridiculously elaborate kids’ parties. More aspirationally wealthy activities to keep families struggling, yay!

I was just showing my husband that post earlier! It’s so jarring seeing that gross display of wealth alongside other parents’ lovingly homemade cakes and things.

We had lockdown drills, but they only started after somebody wandered into the school and threatened students and teachers with a knife. I think they’re reasonably commonplace around here now because periodically there’ll be a wave of bomb threats called in to local schools, but it seemed so shocking to me as an Australian kid in the early 2000s.