I cycled for 4 days with The Family (mum and kid), but it was time for us to go our separate ways.
It was a very intense and stimulating time, which eventually overwhelmed me, and for the last day I cycled on my own to regain some grounding.
I think I can’t quite fit in all my reflections on the time right now, but one part is a glimpse into what it means to be responsible for a small child all the time. I have big respect to all people fulfilling this role for children (or adults that need that environment of care).
In our society care is often assumed to be somebodies responsibility, often without deeper awareness of who is doing it, when and how.
I would love to see a care centred society that is able to deeply understand what is needed to nurture each person so that they can thrive in their own unique way. That feels a long way away.
For my part, I’m trying to learn a lot more about to to become aware and articulate my needs before my emotions cross over some line, which then causes me to need a quite sudden retreat. It’s a work in progress!
Anyway, on to some photos of the joyful fun time we spent together!
The interaction with each of the people I cycled with was almost opposite, with mum, we shared our thoughts on deep intellectual and emotional topics. Particularly powerful for me was being in a place with connection to Nazi Germany and hearing the family stories of the resistance in Warsaw. My eyes got watery!
With the kid, we also had a lot of conversation, but more like this:
me: woof. her: woof. me: woof. her: woof. (x20). me: miaow. her: miaow. me: miaow. her: miaow. (x20) … then maybe mooooooo. You get the idea š Something about the simple repetition is very pleasing to me (neurodiversity? or just like a calming mantra?). Often when cycling my brain and mind goes into a kind of simple circular pattern of thought, and here it felt like it was possible to vocalise and share that.
The connection on that level seems so simple and pure. Mirroring of sounds. I realise I do this with adults to some extent too, but I think small kids just get it! (adults often don’t, or it needs to be wrapped in an explicit context).
Ok, enough ramblings from me, onward with the photos…
setting up the house with lovely evening light 
making a pasta lunch 
olive fingers! perfectly sized 
lunch under the mirabelles (plums?) 
I am so jealous of this setup! would love to curl up and be cycled around 
yay! lots of singing whilst cycling in this setup… the wheels on the bike go round and round… 
selecting a tasty apple 
our little cycling crew 
instagram-perfect photo posing! 
depressed sunflowers looking at their feet, seeds ready for extraction 
peaceful riverside camping, by the Saale (I think) 
morning! 
interesting lump on the leaf stem of this tree (a poplar of some kind?), inside the lump were tiny moving animals, which snowed down on all our stuff (we realised some time later..) 
being with a kid helps me keep my eye open for anything interesting to look at that she might like, here there is bird feeding it’s young under a supermarket cover thing 
oh, I never tire of the view looking up into a tree 
everywhere is a playground if you allow it to be 
helping mum set up camp 
family reunited and ready for departure
Thanks for sharing! Very nice pics. The tree and the leaf are my favourite ones but I do really like all of them!
Interesting what you found most interesting in our discussionsā¦ the stories didnāt really mean to be emotional.
I wonder if this āneedsā framework works well for you.
Enjoyed being close to the nature and the type of sensitivity you have. Maybe not so much socio-emotional š (theory is perfect, though!) but for everything else: sounds and views, trees, rivers, rain and fire, stars, timelessness and putting structure on everything, especially those highly intangible human feelingsā¦ Thanks! I am sure Tosia had great time too <3.
Thanks too š
I don’t mean that part was the most interesting of the chats we had, just the one they came to mind when I was writing that. I don’t think I can fit all the topics into a nice structure or list, they are maybe like threads of fabric woven together…
I would like to write up some of the thoughts about connection, commitment, and autonomy. It’s a bit fuzzy in my head still though. Not quite baked.
Also maybe abkut needs too. I think they exist, and then there are different frameworks or models or stories or beliefs about what to do next with them. I think I still don’t have a firm grasp of exactly what a “need” is (and isn’t). Also comparing with strategies to meet needs, as a separate thing. Ponder ponder ponder.
I would enjoy reading both of them. And also comparing to some non-Western thoughts on the same.
I love your writing. Thanks for introducing me to your blog.