It’s common to be pregnant

Common to give birth

Rare to find peace in these times

with your own self worth…

I'm of the era that would watch my older sister and her friends, use an iron and tea towel to straighten their hair.  The days when Avon was a "thing" and watching the girls get dressed up to go clubbing at Dan's would become my life goal. Colonisation 1 Vs My Hair 0.

It is not whether I am ready

It is whether this man is ready

Ready to be surrounded by the mana of my sisters

A man who is proud of my sisters

A man who is not afraid or confined by my sisters

Who feels light with my sisters

Who does not need attention from my sisters

He is aware of their power and acknowledges this truth

With humility and grace

Like every brother should

I was born in Blenheim. We lived in Picton but the nearest hospital was in Blenheim. I was supposed to be named after my Mum's mum Mary (as Mere) but instead I was named after one of my Dad's kūia who was staying at the time when my Mum went into labour. I am the pōtiki of 12 siblings. Six from my Mum, five of which are my Dads too, and seven from his previous marriage. Our whānau spans multiple generations, so that comes with all sorts of experiences that not many people my age would understand. As the youngest I've seen it all. My eldest living brother is 70 on New Year’s and I'm 36 so there's lifetimes of experiences within one whānau.

I hear a resounding “PAY ATTENTION!”

Don’t switch off, don’t shut down, just pay attention. So, I listen, I observe, and I allow my breath to move through me scanning my body, my thoughts, my heart and my wairua. I simply pay attention.