The first governess I think of is Mary Poppins. What an advertureous day it would be if Mary Poppins was in charge. But all kidding aside, I love the idea of a personal governess helping me be more curious, encouraging me to try new hobbies, and pressing a particularly fascinating and new-to-me book into my hands, while also making sure I mind my manners and health! All good!
She’s so wonderful, agreed! Plus I love that she helped the family to be happy without her. A good governess helps people grow up and find happiness and success on their own.
I love everything about this essay! You are the exact RIGHT person to be the governess as you gently and consistently remind us all to follow what lights us up, to play and enjoy our lives and the “work” of creativity.
LOL Monestary Mode. Used be called having a wife to run your home, family, and errands while you went to work. The Bros think they've invented something new.
This feels like filling the well, crossed with curating a personal curriculum and I love it.
I think I need a Nanny McPhee type (not only because I adore Emma Thompson and all of Maggie Gyllenhaal's knitwear in the film) but because, like me, she's firmly in her crone era, warts and all. Taking no shit, no prisoners.
Thank you for reminding me of The Tainted Cup! I have it and its sequel and need to read them both. Loved TTC but have totally forgotten it so it'll be a speed read before the second.
I find curiosity so vital to my mental health. It encourages us to seek mystery, to have an open mind [add others to the list]. These are vital to imagining a different tomorrow, one that might be even better than we can imagine.
A hermetic life, as appealing as it is at times, doesn’t provide much opportunity to become more than ourselves.
All the references to caves and olfactory senses reminds me of Das Parfum, which I read ages ago in an advanced German class. The story is fascinating, especially before it becomes gruesome. The movie could never elicit the smells the book does.
I find it absolutely vital as well. Oh man - Das Parfum! I haven’t read it yet as the topic rather scares me, but we have a copy in the house. I absolutely believe you about the book vs the film conjuring smell.
The ego of those men - and some women - who feel their work is so important they can't be asked to do anything else is staggering. I love your gentle governess mode and realise that's where I am in my life now. I have a lovely, eclectic group of writers like Stella Gibbons, Dorothy Whipple, Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, L.M. Montgomery and Flora Thompson carrying me on my way.
I love the idea of Governess Mode! Your essay has just alleviated something I've been worrying about. I love learning about folklore and folk life, and I incorporate it into my creative and newsletter writing. (I also enjoy learning languages, and I include that in my day as well.) Because my newsletter is so research-based, it takes longer to write, and I sometimes worry that it "keeps" me from my creative writing. But maybe I'm just in Governess Mode! I do find that there is quite a bit of reciprocity between my research-oriented writing and my fiction writing--each one seems to benefit the other. And I would probably choose Katharine Briggs, who was an expert in faerie folklore, as my governess!
The first governess I think of is Mary Poppins. What an advertureous day it would be if Mary Poppins was in charge. But all kidding aside, I love the idea of a personal governess helping me be more curious, encouraging me to try new hobbies, and pressing a particularly fascinating and new-to-me book into my hands, while also making sure I mind my manners and health! All good!
I love Mary Poppins!! and it wasn’t until recently that I realized that what I loved most about her was her self-assurance, her refusal to back down
She’s so wonderful, agreed! Plus I love that she helped the family to be happy without her. A good governess helps people grow up and find happiness and success on their own.
What if you gave her a day and just followed the instructions you wish she’d give you? I’d love to hear how it went!
I just might!
I love everything about this essay! You are the exact RIGHT person to be the governess as you gently and consistently remind us all to follow what lights us up, to play and enjoy our lives and the “work” of creativity.
Awww, Christine. That means SO MUCH. Thank you, love. 💕 💖🙏🏻
I love this idea! Doing things for the sake of doing them is so important.
Agreed!
LOL Monestary Mode. Used be called having a wife to run your home, family, and errands while you went to work. The Bros think they've invented something new.
I couldn’t have said it better!
This feels like filling the well, crossed with curating a personal curriculum and I love it.
I think I need a Nanny McPhee type (not only because I adore Emma Thompson and all of Maggie Gyllenhaal's knitwear in the film) but because, like me, she's firmly in her crone era, warts and all. Taking no shit, no prisoners.
Thank you for reminding me of The Tainted Cup! I have it and its sequel and need to read them both. Loved TTC but have totally forgotten it so it'll be a speed read before the second.
Excellent choice! Love all of this and hope you have a grand time with Tainted Cup and Drop of Corruption. So so fun.
I do find them even more poignant given that my sense of smell never really recovered after covid.
Oh how awful! I lost my sense of taste for quite a while after having my wisdom teeth removed, so you have my true sympathy.
I find curiosity so vital to my mental health. It encourages us to seek mystery, to have an open mind [add others to the list]. These are vital to imagining a different tomorrow, one that might be even better than we can imagine.
A hermetic life, as appealing as it is at times, doesn’t provide much opportunity to become more than ourselves.
All the references to caves and olfactory senses reminds me of Das Parfum, which I read ages ago in an advanced German class. The story is fascinating, especially before it becomes gruesome. The movie could never elicit the smells the book does.
I find it absolutely vital as well. Oh man - Das Parfum! I haven’t read it yet as the topic rather scares me, but we have a copy in the house. I absolutely believe you about the book vs the film conjuring smell.
Loved the talk the other day. Books are the best!!! ✨✨✨
The ego of those men - and some women - who feel their work is so important they can't be asked to do anything else is staggering. I love your gentle governess mode and realise that's where I am in my life now. I have a lovely, eclectic group of writers like Stella Gibbons, Dorothy Whipple, Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy, L.M. Montgomery and Flora Thompson carrying me on my way.
I love the idea of Governess Mode! Your essay has just alleviated something I've been worrying about. I love learning about folklore and folk life, and I incorporate it into my creative and newsletter writing. (I also enjoy learning languages, and I include that in my day as well.) Because my newsletter is so research-based, it takes longer to write, and I sometimes worry that it "keeps" me from my creative writing. But maybe I'm just in Governess Mode! I do find that there is quite a bit of reciprocity between my research-oriented writing and my fiction writing--each one seems to benefit the other. And I would probably choose Katharine Briggs, who was an expert in faerie folklore, as my governess!