every week my dad writes this letter…
Mike’s his name. This is what he does: he calls all of us (his six kids and various partners) to get an update on our lives. Then he writes a group email, dot-pointing the highlights of our lives, so we’re all in each other’s loops.
- Dad, me and my beautiful, long-suffering Mum
I’m sharing this because it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and (loose-ish segue) I reckon if you’re a dad or a mum, or you’re thinking of being one one day, then you might like to try it with your kids. As a recipient, I love it. My brothers and sister live around the world and Dad’s emails unite us in a flurry of quick replies and smart-arse comments. When you have a big family, and one dominated by brothers, smart-arse comments are the currency. All affection comes by way of a dig in the ribs. Or a wrestle.
Dinner at our house. Me in front...bored. Mostly.
When we were kids Dad would whip around the table each night and we had to give a rundown of our day. It was our ritual. Now his emails are our family ritual.
The emails always start with a different salutation (he calls us, variously, The Urchins, The Inheritance Wranglers…). And often they’re a piss-take of each of us.
For Mother’s Day, he sent this one. Bear in mind:
* anything bourgeois grates Dad, like balsamic vinegar and raw spinach served in cafes. In fact, most things about cafe culture are a source of bemusement for Dad.
* Dad can’t really cook, but can assemble a great breakfast in bed…following mum’s lead (they make it for each other every weekend… cute).
* The bit about the light bulb at the bottom is really rather funny. Even if (though?) he’s my Dad.
Happy Mother’s Day, mums. Hope you get some freshly squeezed V8 juice in bed, too.
Kiddies
For those of you who are camping out in Bristol, Honiara, Sydney and Melbourne (Si and Bron), I thought you might like to know what’s on for Mother’s day brunch at the 7olmes Eatery. See menu below.Mothers Day Brunch Menu – 9 May 2010
· Freshly squeezed V8 juice*.
· Creamy, natural, freshly cultured yoghurt with recently raided local bee-hive honey*.
· Plump, fully rounded, blood grapefruit slices – freshly harvested, and garnished with fresh out-of-the-packet prunes*.
· Provincial French fluffy omelette with free-ranging organic eggs, gently sliced free-ranging, grain-fed, moist, ham-off-the-bone, a blush of home grown fresh, rich, ripe, red baby tomatoes, a taste of ‘Aussie’ style traditional, high-flavour organic dairy-free cheese and a garnish of in-season freshly harvested, garden herbs (parsley and chives)* .
· Lightly browned, non-diary, gluten-free, no-yeast and free of nuts, sour dough potato bread toast*.
· Freshly brewed aromatic Vittoria, mountain-grown, high-altitude, 100% Arabica coffee* .
*Categorically no balsamic vinegar, fetta cheese, porccini mushrooms or sour raw spinach.
For Mother’s day I brought your mum an 8 watt fluorescent light bulb for her side of the bed lamp (its been blown for ages) ……and you know kids, sometimes the time is right for small, local, inwardly focussed presents, and sometimes its right to go big, bold and universal – on this occasion I went global.
What’s your family ritual? What do you do to keep important connections ticking over?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Natasha David. Natasha David said: beautiful idea RT @_sarahwilson_: every week my dad writes this letter… http://bit.ly/cQDTiw [...]
That is such a great idea, if I ever have more than one child I just might have to introduce this one – it is an impressive way to keep you all in the loop, he does the work for you getting the low-down then encourages you all to easily keep in touch. What a lovely way to keep the family a family long after members start globetrotting etc..
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my family are in such constant contact even when i loved in Europe. I’m one of 5 kids and now there are 5 grandkids (none are mine yet) we all managed to whinge and complain to each other enough that we know whats going on. Sadly it’s almost like the tv show Brothers and Sisters!
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I just love all your 70′s photo’s Sarah!
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Too sweet, if only my dad was that amusing and erudite (love him to bits none-the-less). You must really look forward to his updates. And Happy Mother’s Day Mums from me too!
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Sarah your Dad is such a gem.
If only all the Dad’s of this world were as interested in the lives of their children.
You are so lucky.
Chris
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I also meant to wish all you beautiful Mum’s out there a “Happy Mothers Day”.
Although it is very commercialized the important thing is that warm and wonderful cuddle from your child, no matter how old they are and knowing that you are appreciated and loved by them.
My boys are 22 and 25.
I am spending Mothers Day with my youngest son Paul. Just us two..
My husband is going off with his mates on his motor bike for the day.
My parents are spending the day with friends, having lunch, playing bowls, and then dinner ..
This part saddens me … My mum is 86 … but this is their choice .. oh well!
Thankfully my eldest son Dean will be home next weekend so I will get my cuddle from him then!
Any way to you Mum’s out there, enjoy Sunday and I hope that you feel the love and appreciation that you all deserve.
Chris
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That is such a great idea! I’m going to use it too, once our family begins to grow and move apart.
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Sarah – thks for sharing this with us. What a lovely tradition in your family so you are all in the loop with what’s going on.
The sense of the whimsical that you possess – kinda understand who has been a key influence in instilling that in you – the light bulb present & explanation made me laugh…
I think I had a dressing gown like the one you’re wearing in the 2nd photo – like Paul said, it’s delightful you sharing those 70s (& 80s photos), funny that your brother in front of you is still focused on his dinner whilst everyone is acting up for the camera, and you look like your holding back laughing (Perhaps you were the troublemaker this time?)
Have a fun weekend…
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When I was a child my Grandad used to send me a weekly Beatrix Potter postcard from wherever he was (he is an ex-marine and at the time was a traveling security advisor), this included his own home, which was just round the corner from mine. Sadly, I didn’t keep many of them, but I will always cherish the memory.
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May 8th, 2010 at 10:19 am
Christine, I love this Beatrix Potter idea. You don’t need to keep things to remember them….
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what a great tradition ~ and what a great dad! happy mother’s day
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[...] is my post from last year about Mother’s Day Ideas. I would like add a couple new ideas and a mom to that [...]
I can understand why you shared this, its a beautiful, and probably too rare, thing. I deeply hope to have the same level of connection – through wit, humour and warmth, with my family too.
Thank you
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Dear Sarah
i really do enjoy your page in the Age newspaper each Sunday. You are a very insightful person by what you write. I find it really thought provoking and find myself nodding my head when I read some of it, and think, “yes I can relate to whay she is saying”.
Am sure many other people do too, sooooooooo keep it up, and well put.
Thank you
Lenette
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I really enjoyed your dad’s email – he is hilarious – I can so see why you love getting these missives.
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that’s awesome
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Sarah…it’s lovely how you honour your father in this post….
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[...] Dad just sent this email update. I’ve written before about his group emails. I thought I’d share because it made my day. Bear in mind, this from a man who bought my mum [...]