We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He choose this as the way in which they should break, so be it.
-C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Art of Living & Literature Across Frontiers: Be Who You Want To Be
Your child is on the blocks, ready to swim the 50-metre freestyle. You zoom in so close you can see her nerves, even behind those tinted goggles. Just be careful that you don't pan to the left or right to check out the competition.
Sharyn Brownlee, the NSW president of the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Associations, says parents should be forced to seek permission from schools to film and photograph their child - and only their child - at swimming carnivals, school plays and other events.
Even as teenagers, my girls spend hours sitting in the rumpus room going through the album of the photographs when they were little. They sit there and laugh for hours at the way they pulled faces ... did all the strange and wonderful things as babies and little girls. We treasure all those January swims every year which were run by the Department of Sport and Recreation. Each year they moved to the next level getting different colour ribbons and swimming caps. The program took them to many pools from Hefron pool to Scots College diving blocks Granbrook indoor pool is also in the photos. There are great memories of Wilston Friday club days, netball at Waverley Park and the ballet classes at the Bondi Pavillion or Bondi Road Art center. A lovely group shot of a sign created by Alex stating Sasha the Potato Masha ... Most of the photos were taken by me in order to keep their grandmother in Europe up to date with their changing faces; others were taken spontaneously by friends ... It is a sad generation which is driven to the stage of deciding the lesser of the evil that started to grow by the Wall of the Darlinghurst Road and spread to every corner of our suburbs :-(
• Sign here to take that poolside snap [Deserted playgrounds, childhood obesity and spiralling diagnoses of behavioural disorders - these are the legacies of over-protective parenting which has spawned a generation of cottonwool kids At risk - children's wellbeing and school excursions ; Not everyone wants to know when that child or parent shows up Years after, a knock at the door ... ; Books @ Salon ]
• · Melting the Cold River