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Kirsty Helliar's avatar

I bought myself The Clearing (huge respect to Liptrot) but haven’t found myself delving in it yet. I’m procrastinating of course.

This writing of yours made me weep. This is where I am. My journey of being mother has been further muddied in recent years by deaths of fathers. Menopause has stripped me of skin I’ve hidden under for a very long time. Finding Kirsty is painful.

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Katy Wheatley's avatar

It really is painful. I am sending you massive amounts of love. xx

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Ruth2Day's avatar

so good to have found your new space, having thoroughly enjoyed your Wordpress blog for a long, long time. You've not lost your writing touch and I'm looking forward to your future posts

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Katy Wheatley's avatar

Hello! Thank you for your lovely words xx

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anne richardson's avatar

absolutely beautiful read and insights Katy. thank you for sharing. as my mother aged, i relished the shift in our relationship as it became more friendship, more expansive as we were able to contemplate the deeper notes of life. then she slid down the slope of Alzheimer's and our relationship shifted again. her mind wander into new/old lands and i followed along until her death almost 6 years ago.

my daughter is 35 and my son is 32 and i appreciate that we are at the point where we have deep conversations. is it more than if they were "a younger friend?" of course. and the shift in our relationships came with letting go of the parental role and allowing for something more expansive. more loving.

i appreciate what i've learned from Sharon Blackie about archetypes...that we humans didn't create them and that they shift over time. my sense is the mother archetype is shifting...and to me, that feels freeing.

thank you again.

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Katy Wheatley's avatar

No, thank you. I think you are so right about the archetype shifting. Thank you for sharing x

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The Coach House: Andréa Childs's avatar

I’m currently reading - and loving - The Clearing, and it’s bringing back memories of clearing my Mums home when she died for years ago. But your words, Katy, remind me of a gift I’m so thankful my mum gave me. When I was around 12-14, she experienced a period of emotional and mental strife while my step father was also mentally ill. She wasn’t really able to mother me then and I ‘adulted’ myself. Her gift, when she was divorced and in a better place, was to become my mum again. Later, we walked side by side as women, even as I helped care for her before she died. I didn’t need to ‘mother’ her. My children are 20 and 16 and the nature of my motherhood is changing. I guess we’ll see what happens.

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Katy Wheatley's avatar

Thank you for sharing that. I found it very moving x

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S Griffiths's avatar

How strangely life is mirrored/coincidences happen. I'm sitting on the sofa, readying myself to head to (procrastinating about?) my parents house to continue clearing after the death of my Mum last year. As I've been struggling to grieve our strange relationship I may have a look at The Clearing. Thank you.

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Katy Wheatley's avatar

Sending you love and strength. xx

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