“A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2016.”
It has been a strange few days. The EU referendum result has ignited such shock, grief and anger – not just amongst me and my friends, but amongst many millions of people in the UK and beyond.
I have spent hours dwelling on the impact that impending Brexit will have on the life of this little one – the identity shifted, the opportunities missed, the unity unknown.
We had to escape on Saturday morning, taking our van to a campsite not far away but far enough to immerse ourselves in nature for a while. It didn’t entirely drag me away from social media and its outpouring of emotion, analysis and dismay, but it stopped me from going completely mad.
There was something strangely comforting about the fact that most of the weekend was mired in cloud and slow drizzle, belying the forecast of sunshine we had been looking forward to all week. It was as if the universe was grieving with us for all that we have lost.
And then this morning the sun came up, and bathed our campsite in warmth and beauty. We went for a swim in the sea, cool and invigorating, and I began to see things with fresh eyes.
I still believe that something terrible has happened to our country, but I am beginning to see the referendum result as a symptom rather than a cause – and as a call to act, for all of our futures.
Looking at this boy, poised and full of wonder at the heart of an ancient tree budding with new life, gives me hope that we, too, can find a way to bring ourselves back from the winter that has befallen us.
Linking up with Jodi at Practising Simplicity for The 52 Project.
Sophie is... 
Sophie,
Ponder for a moment that more than 17m voted to leave .
I suspect that many more had a sentiment to leave but peer pressure and fear of the unknown stopped them.
Try to understand why the majority voted to leave.
As one of those I believe that we , our Children and grandchildren are far better out of the EU as currently formed. A revised model will emanate from theBrutish being brave enough to call the emperors clothes.
Love, Dad
Sent from my iPhone
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I have pondered at length the reason for just over a third of adults in this country choosing to vote to leave. Some I know will share your sentiment, but as is becoming increasingly obvious from the fallout many saw the referendum as an opportunity to protest against the general state of the UK, and had no opinion at all on whether the EU was (is) actually a good thing for our country.
Your view, and that of the rest of those who voted to leave, is at odds with at least a third of the electorate (over 16 million people), including a whole raft of experts from different fields whose opinions I respect enormously. It is also at odds with the strongly held and well-researched views of all of the parents of your grandchildren.
Given the current political rhetoric I am beginning to doubt whether the referendum result will actually lead to Brexit at all, but if it does I hope you’re right – for all of our sakes.
I am extremely surprised by your suspicion that there were many people who voted remain rather than leave due to “peer pressure and fear of the unknown”, David, when it seems blatantly clear to me and many others that it was exactly the other way around. There has been article after article reporting regret and confusion expressed amongst “leave” voters. Many of them say they did not understand what they were voting for and/or were grossly misled by the leave campaigners (who are gradually slinking away from the stinking mess they’ve created) and manipulated by a criminally biased media. That the European Union needs major reform is unquestionable. My particular bugbear is the CAP… sheer antiquated nonsense that cripples the union, financially. However, you don’t throw all your toys out of the pram because your teddy’s head is falling off or kick the whole building down just because there’s faulty plumbing. Just because we had a spineless, ineffectual prime minister who was unable to negotiate adequate reform does not mean we should rip the heart out of a union that was created to maintain peace in Europe. People keep likening this to a divorce. But what we are facing is not a divorce from a partner (believe me, while living in France for 18 months there were times when I was on the brink of filing for a divorce from France!) We created the European Union alongside our neighbouring countries. The EU is our child, and you DO NOT divorce your child! No matter how sick and dysfunctional your child becomes, you stick by and help, you work and work at it. In my opinion, anyway. This referendum – and the obnoxious spirit with which it came to pass and was campaigned for, and the fall out from it – has done irreversible damage to this country and I cannot forgive the perpetrators. The suffering caused to good, hardworking Europeans living in the UK, the platform given to the venomous xenophobes to spread their hate and poison, the financial hardship spread far and wide by the resultant assault on our currency… it all makes me weep. Please rethink your position on this matter. No good has or will ever come of this selfish, narrow-minded, naive, fear-driven act by our outgoing prime minister. This referendum was never about whether we should be “in or out” of Europe (there’s no “out” in my opinion, we are IN this Union or we are nothing), it was a point-scoring political game that Cameron lost. He didn’t even have the heart or balls to
respond to the people of this country, to reassure them or inform them, he just said “Boo hoo, I lost, I’m buggering off…” I am beyond angry with him, and many others who hold positions of authority and power.. I am disgusted by their behaviour. And I am ashamed to be British at this moment in time. Ashamed.
Visiting the UK from the US for the first time this week, I have found your posts incredibly enlightening. I had joked with friends about opening a pub in Ireland if Trump finds his way into the White House. Having faith that the people of the UK were not as screwed up as the people in the US. Now my drive to see Trump defeated is so much larger. If we can defeat him, come to the US. Your ideas about education would be so invaluable there. And your husbands talents desired as well. But first our challenge. Thanks for the wake-up call, GB.
This shot it magical. Looks like you picked a perfect escape in these trying times. x