Every day is a new challenge. It’s the lockdown reality for all of us. I am no different. 

My challenge, is that I have an almost 3 year old. With this, I am having to come up with ideas on how to keep her entertained for at least 20 minutes as, after that, her mind starts wandering onto something else. And given the day is 720 minutes long, I have a lot of activities to muddle through.

Monday morning, Mr Potato was dusted off. Well, Mr Potato and his friend, who successfully managed to keep Lois entertained for a good stint of time. I’ll take that win.

While pulling them apart, with body parts and accessories scattered all over the sofa, it got me thinking. Here we have all the pieces to make a pretty good Mr Potato. This was providing Lois managed to adequately distinguish the nose hole from the ear hole. Yet, what Mr Potato actually looked like was all her making. Will she use the little nose, or the big nose. The trainers, or the shoes. Put glasses on, or leave them off. She had to decide. She had to choose. It’s the same in life. And, for Lois, she is lucky enough to have positive choices.

My husband, Nick, comes from a supportive and happy family. And I am lucky to come from the same. So, Nick and I have made our way through the first 40 years of our life with all the necessary tools to survive and, essentially, thrive. We are fortunate. I truly recognise that, and am grateful for it too. We’ve studied. We’ve worked in what we hoped. We’ve had emotional and practical support. We’ve travelled. We’ve managed to get on the property ladder… and even managed to take a few steps up it. And, with our new little family, I hope we will continue in the same vain. I’m not saying this is the blueprint. I’m just saying that it’s a pretty good start for Lois. Mr Potato has all the parts. Lois has all the parts. But what she does with them all is up to her. Will she put them in the right holes and make a good Mr Potato? Or, not? What will her Mr Potato, her life, look like?

To have choice in life is amazing. All those kids brought into the world in poverty, war, abuse… they have less positive choice or opportunity. It’s not their fault. May be they will get a teacher that believes in them, a stroke of financial luck, a mentor or another way out. But Lois, and now Thea, will have good and positive choices available to them… for now. Opportunity is very present. I am not saying this because I want them to be lawyers or doctors. I’m saying that if they wanted to study or train, we can support them to do that. If they want to travel, we can support them to do that. If they want live abroad or start a business we can support them to do that. And it’s not just about what they decide to do but how they do it, and who they want to be. It’s up to them.

As I am thinking about this, while constructing my Mr Potato, Lois decides to shove her Mr Potato’s eyes into his bottom. I am unsure if it was intentional, to be funny, or if she had just got it wrong. There is always that. While she has a lot of the parts to make good choices, there will always be some wrong ones along the way. That’s ok too. I just hope the girls do their best to learn from those mistakes. “Now Lois, is that where you think the eyes should go? Up Mr Potatoes bottom? May be try again.” 

Logging and blogging snippets of life advice for my girls on Instagram @deargirls.byzoe.