The Gift of an Ordinary Day

About 7 years ago I came across Katrina Kenison and "The Gift of an Ordinary Day" book.  This is a story about Motherhood and the changes that happen so quickly that we think will be there forever.

I was reminded of this the other day when someone mentioned about how their 8 year old daughter would get her hair brushed every morning and it would always end in tears and struggle.  Something every mother dreads but then one day the daughter no longer wants her Mum to do her hair and she is now able to do it on her own.  Then suddenly you realize it's gone, and you won't experience it again even though it was a struggle for both of you each day you feel sad.  I remember this myself how I would have to allow at least 10 minutes to brush Sienna's hair and get the knots out and plait it for school.  She would say that I was pulling it and hurting her and I was just trying to get knots out.  I think every Mother can relate.

There's the time when they had baths and sit in there for 20 minutes enjoying the water and then one day they are having showers with the door shut.  One day you are lying on the bed reading bed time stories and the next minute they are reading novels by themselves before bed.  One day you are making them breakfast and the next day they are cooking themselves eggs on toast before school.  Those early years are hard and long and then one day you have 10 weeks left until you will have both kids in high school.  How did that happen?

"The Gift of an Ordinary Day" is still one of the best books I have read in my life.  I just loved everything about it and can highly recommend reading it and getting a copy of the book to keep.

My photography is a big part of that and why I love documenting our everyday ordinary life.  The kids eating breakfast, doing their homework, reading their books, playing their instruments.  Everyone photographs the big events like Birthdays, Christmas, Holidays, 1st day of school etc but it's the in between which is life, just hanging around at home growing up.  I have taken thousands of photos within the walls of our home in the last 6 years of being here and enjoying the ordinary everyday life that we have.  This is why the photo project "Week in the Life" is a great time capsule of your life from year to year.

Below is a 7 minute introduction video from Katrina Kenison which I find hard not to get teary at watching because it's so meaningful and so beautiful.

You can see how fast time flies and little ones grow up in my recent post about my "Birthday Traditions" where I take a special family photo on my birthday and have documented this 12 years running.

I can highly recommend the book "The Gift of an Ordinary Day" for any parent of any age as it's beautifully written.