Sanctuary.

It's been a while since I've blogged, but Paw Patrol is on, so now is the perfect time.

The title of this post reminded me of that one time I asked to be directed to the Sanctuary products in Boots, and the lady took me to the sanitary products....

Anyway.

It's a different Sanctuary I'm talking about today.  I went to sleep last night holding my husband's hand, while he sat up and listened to live updates from the US general election. When we woke this morning, we heard the news about Donald Trump. I couldn't quite get over the image in my mind of this man, who, only a couple of weeks ago, was defending his "locker room banter", and now is in the White House. I cannot imagine what the next 4 years is going to bring to us. I feel like there's a lot of uncertainty about the future and about the way the world is going. It is scary. We all talk about wanting our world to be a better place for our children to grow up in and it's easy to fear that world, especially with all the political surprises we've had recently.

But, here's what I learnt this morning.

This morning, Isaac and I were setting up his train track in his room. We were having so much fun, we didn't want to go downstairs, so we had a breakfast picnic of crumpets, brioche and grapes.

Then we build a pirate ship den out of pillows and duvets. As I was cuddling Olivia and we were watching Isaac play, I realised that, for my children, it doesn't really matter who's the President of the United States. It doesn't even really matter who Theresa May is, or when Brexit will happen. All that matters to them is that THEIR world is happy. When we worry about making our children's world a better one, we shouldn't be worrying about the world out there. We should be worrying about the world in here. The world they sleep in, wake in, eat in and play in. If the politics of our home are honest and fair, we don't need to worry.
If the co-president of my home and I treat each other with love and respect, we don't need to worry.

Yesterday, my husband rescued me from a stressful shopping experience

 with my 2.5 year old son. During the Daddy-Son debrief, I heard Ieuan say "Isaac, look at Mummy. She is the most special person in the world. You must treat her like a princess."

My husband is this wonderful to me because his father is the same way with his mother.


 Leading by example really works.
If you don't ever want a world leader who objectifies and disrespects women, then don't be a home leader like that. The way we raise our little ones directly impacts the world around us, and our future.


We don't need to worry. For our children, right now, the state of our homes is all that matters. Have hope and take courage. Build a Sanctuary full of fun times, good food, fair discipline, love, light, laughter and plenty of kisses and cuddles. That's all the world they need right now.

"Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but what happens in your house." Barbara Bush