Dreams
When I was growing up, I had a dream of what my life would be like when I grew up … I didn’t plan a big career or to do anything astonishing … I just dreamt of getting married and having children and living happily everafter. In my dream, I would be a mum of at least 6 children, living in a big house in the countryside … there would be huge gardens and orchards and my children would be happy, spending their time playing in the sunshine, climbing trees, splashing in rivers. I would have met the man of my dreams, fallen madly in love and got married and be in the process of living happily ever after, with my beautiful rosey cheeked children. In my dream I’d be making jam, and baking bread while my children played together - the older ones looking after the younger ones … and I’d look out of the kitchen window at them smiling proudly.
Of course my childish dreams never included the realities we grown ups find ourselves facing in real life - no worries about money and mortgages, no worries about nasty people lurking in the darker corners of my large gardens ready to steal my rosey cheeked children away, no worries about how much television is too much, no thoughts of how to discipline those lovely children, no going to work to pay the bills.
Life is unfortunately not like my dream … but that’s not to say it’s bad! 
Parts of my dream have come true … I did meet a man, fall in love, get married, have some beautiful rosey cheeked children … they are happy … I do look at them and smile proudly. The important parts of my dream are reality today - maybe the details of the dream are not here, but the most important things are. I have my husband and I have my children, and nothing else would matter without those things that are most precious to me. I don’t need the big house, the huge gardens … I don’t need to spend my days making bread and jam … I just need those people, and I do what I have to do to bring up my children as best I can, with the things they need. Over time our dreams sometimes change - they adapt to reality … reality means we don’t have enough money to live in a huge house, reality says I’m not the “earth mother” I thought I might be … but that’s ok.
I wonder what my children’s dreams are for when they are grown up. Ben’s most recent plan is that he will open a shop selling pokemon toys and other collectables, so children just like him now, can spend their pocket money in his shop and collect whole sets of things. Abi wants to be a ballerina. Never mind the fact that she hasn’t had a ballet lesson in her life … I’m not going to spoil her dream by pointing that out. Isn’t it wonderful how a child believes that they can do anything … as a grown up, we get more negative and lose that innocence and self-belief.
Keep on dreaming my precious rosey cheeked children!
July 16th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Due to the dyslexia memory thing I have no idea what my dreams were as a child. I’m sure it did not involve throwing pots. Looking forward to making that dream happen.
We had planned on clearing out the garage this weekend, but it’s too hot, and the garage is south facing, so it’s really hot!
Wonder if being a Mum was in mine, from the little I can remember I don’t think so.
Glad that did happen though.
July 16th, 2006 at 3:09 pm
Reading my way through the BC Carnival!
great post! I love your old dream, sounds delightful
July 16th, 2006 at 3:17 pm
When I was at primary school I dreamt about being a Maths teacher!!! It came true! :>
July 16th, 2006 at 5:18 pm
So sweet, thanks for sharing!
July 17th, 2006 at 12:31 am
Really nice blog and very well written. I think my son might join your son in his Pokemon dream!
July 17th, 2006 at 2:16 am
http://susansharpeceramics.co.uk/blog/?p=362
You should have a nominee banner up too, Suzy I voted for you.
July 17th, 2006 at 2:32 am
great post. I think it’s a good thing that childhood dreams don’t carry any ugliness of reality;) we wouldn’t grow up if we knew huh?:)
Visiting from the BC carnival
July 17th, 2006 at 4:28 am
Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to go to Africa and study lions….now I just want to go and look at them for a week or so. It’s funny how adult reality changes what we once viewed romantically!!
July 17th, 2006 at 5:48 am
My dream growing up was very similar to yours…and just like you, the important parts came true! My husband and children make up for the parts that didn’t happen…I’m happy just the way things are!
July 17th, 2006 at 10:07 am
Thanks so much all of you for your comments! The most comments I’ve ever had!!
I’ll be doing the rounds and visiting all of your blogs today, as well as the rest of the Carnival 
Susan - I’ve put my nominee sign up now (and yours) - thanks for nominating me hun xxx