Bike Park Meltdown
- Emily Bagaric
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
We're off on some big adventures-
Come and follow along as I document life on the road.
All things parenting, relationships, home schooling and life learning.
All amongst the calm and the chaos of family life, squished into a van.
It will be messy and imperfect as I navigate the realities of meeting my needs alongside my family.
Hello Mamma,
Well this has been hard to get out to you all!
Between making our way up along the East Coast, moving about every 3 days it’s honestly felt like we’ve been on the road for months and it has only been 20 days since we left the farm!
I’ve also been sitting with what it is I want to share with you, and without overthinking it, because that generally leads to nothing being written and sent,
I think it’s just going to be life. A diary entry from life on the road.
The realities and the messy bits, that don’t make it on to Instagram.
Like yesterday when we arrived in Ballina, and we’re slowly working out that a move day is actually really big for Mr 8 (nearly 9!) And Dom and I had a conversation about it this morning, it does feels somewhat unsettling to the nervous system.
After 3 nights somewhere and then you pack up and move towns and spaces, the first sleep feels a bit uneasy, and then after 3 nights it’s like leaving home, to then do it all over again!!
So I can see how this lifestyle is full on for the nervous system and particularly for kids that rely heavily on stability and certainty.
So we arrived, set up and Dom and Mr 6 went out to explore as I really felt I needed to give Mr 8 some time to settle in the van, however his feelings were brewing and building.
We went to a bike track not far from the caravan park and by that stage school had finished and it was full of kids.
Now in the life of any homeschooling kids, mamma’s I know you will understand, we are mostly use to parks and playgrounds during school hours, and the level of kids and chaos in the evening hours was too much for him and he had an incredibly big meltdown at the bike park.
Right there in front of all, some parents trying to check in, Dom and I managing ourselves as best as we could.
I guided him from the park back to the caravan. I tried to get him to hold one handle bar and me the other so I had some closeness with him, and to keep the momentum.
I managed to co-regulate enough with him and got him near the water as his anger and rage began to simmer a little.
He held on though for the rest of the night, which to be honest brought up a lot for us and it was far from perfect parenting on out behalf.
It’s been a lot with such little space and all of the family dynamics crammed into such a small space. Sometimes ricocheting off each other, but I’ve been conscious to not let the “this isn’t the best idea for your family” track takeover, as I gently remind myself that this is life, and life can be tricky some days, and full of feelings.
We’re human and I believe the more we can feel what’s here for us, whether it’s uncomfortable and hard to be with, that is what it means to be human living this one precious life.
So we continue, literally just taking things one day at a time. Tending to ourselves where we can.
We’re focusing on eating well (which sometimes feels harder when on the road and moving lots), moving our bodies, which has been pretty easy between walking, beach running and exercises, bike riding; we’re moving and getting loads more outdoor time than we ever have before.
We’ve got 5 nights coming up at our next destination so will feel into some spaciousness and routine there. I think that’s what we’re craving.
Oh and I’m going to be squeezing in person some very special women in my life, so I know that will be deeply nourishing for me.
I hope you’re week is feeling full of wonder and connection and if there’s some uncomfortableness in your life too, I see you and I’m right here alongside you.
All my love,
Emily x
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