Never have I been prouder of my parents than most recently.
For the first time in more than twenty years I am witnessing them be their most playful and adventurous by taking the plunge back into scuba diving.
It’s a sport they pursued before they made me and my siblings, and something they clung to in our early years taking us on the odd dive trip.
But in our middle teen years their mounting responsibilities of raising kids, working and caring for their ageing parents took over and they had a long hiatus from their favourite hobby.
Now aged in their 60s and 70s they are fearless, not letting the myriad of excuses, family or age-related, get in their way.
And they are happier for it. Like a pressure valve has been released.
It can be hard as parents to allow yourself to do the big thing, the thing you love or the thing that scares you.
Equally the roles of wife, daughter, sister, auntie and/or employee always come first.
Now I see my folks chasing their fun though I realise to be a good mum I must mirror the same to my kids.
It’s why I’m going to be taking a pause writing this column.
I won’t be going on any wild adventures, uprooting us to live by the world’s best longboard surfing beach – yet.
Instead, in the stolen moments between juggling family and work where I would usually find the time to write this column, I’m going to do the thing that scares me.
The thing that will make my kids and husband most proud. I am going to write the fiction book I’ve been talking about with them for years.
Thank you to the readers who approach me in life to share their kind words about what they read in these few inches of the Village Voice each month.
I have been proud to write for this local newspaper for more than a decade, pleased to see the positive news it spreads around our communities each edition.
Thank you to editor Michael Hawke for the original opportunity and friendship, and to subeditor Kate Lockyer for leeway with deadlines and ever supportive words.
I feel vulnerable sharing this ambition so widely but as I prepare to submit this piece I stare at a Post-It my daughter has scrawled and placed on my desk.
‘Write your book’ it says. I have to show her I can.
Annabelle, we have loved reading your reflections on the complicated world of parenting and have been grateful to be able to share with our readers your nuggets of wisdom, written with humour and humility. We can’t wait to read the book! – Michael, Kate and the Village Voice team
Annabelle Chapple has previously written Three Wise Women: The Cookbook based on her grandmothers’ recipes.
