In early 2014, I made the decision to go on my first solo travel adventure to Italy. I had this need to do something special while in the middle of the wondrous world of motherhood. At the time my three daughters were 14, 10 and 5, it was the first time I left home for any great length of time.
I knew for me, I had to do something to wake my spirit and creativity. I was happy enough but at 37 standing in the kitchen I realised I still had a long way to go in terms of mothering and I needed to fill the well.
My husband never wanted to travel or make any future plans with me, he just liked being at home or visiting his family. Where I needed something more. I had always loved Italy and one day made the decision that I would go. I always had this strange feeling that I was never going to get out of parenting, that I just couldn’t see myself moving beyond it.
One part was because I was someone who really loved being at home with our girls, picking them up, organising fairy parties after school, making art and all that fun stuff. Yet, I had this sense that I couldn’t just let my life drift away on the boat of motherhood. So at 39 years old I arrived in Italy. I stayed for three weeks and had one of the most dazzling adventures of my life. This journey changed everything for me.
A few years later I started the podcast A Writer in Italy because I wanted to share stories and dive deeper into Italian culture, and mostly I love a creative project. This work was me being true to myself even though it never really made sense on paper and it was a work in progress.
I went back to Italy again and cajoled the family into coming with me a few times, which they loved… I always had to be in the driver’s seat, there is no doubt, otherwise these magnificent journeys back to Europe would never have happened at a time when the girls were still within our orbit - deep down I knew time was moving fast through the hour glass.
I discovered in our relationship I was more the visionary one, and Richard was the taproot. Both things can be good when you work together. Although, it hasn’t always been that simple. I loved those journeys and treasure the memories so much, because time has continued to move us on.
Exactly ten years after the journey to Italy at 49 I became a grandparent. My daughter Maddy had a baby boy on my husband’s birthday, funnily enough. They live with us much of the time and my life has taken another big turn. I am a full time creative and still juggle mothering (now 26, 21, 17) and the cherry on top, grandmothering. I also expect they will never leave home, a bit like the kids in Italy!! I am called GiGi ... I felt too young to be called Grandma!
It is a beautiful and wise thing that my 37 yr old self knew something about my future self. And my husband still does not make any plans or trips for the future, prefers being at home creating his music. But he adores being called PopPop and hanging around in the garden with his No1 grandchild (the one born on his 53rd birthday)….
I wrote about this journey in my book In the Shadow of a Cypress - An Italian Adventure.
My recent paperback edition of the book has been updated and has an addition of A Reader’s Guide and Journaling Prompts. The Paperback is available in full colour with colour images and artwork.
It has been a lovely work in progress, a bit like me!
Visit at MichelleJohnston.life
Instagram @awriterinitaly
Listen to the Podcast - A Writer in Italy
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I am so glad you took the plunge and we "met"
so looking forward to reading this edition!