Thank you

And more...

I have now finished my 'tiny tour’ of the book - three launches in two weeks. It was so lovely. I wanted to share my thank you with you. I shared it at the launches but felt it was crucial to share it with you as subscribers.

Quite simply, without you - I would not have been able to write this book. It’s almost impossible to write a book while holding down three jobs. It almost broke me trying to do it with Rants in the Dark and with the editing process of Is It Bedtime Yet?

There’s an assumption that writing a book makes you big bucks. And that you’re paid to write it. You’re not - but it’s still a privilege to be able to do it. The only reason I was able to do Needs Adult Supervision is because of paid subscribers. You gave me space to write full time, you helped me when I was nearly burnt out. You gave me back my love of writing.

I began this newsletter at the beginning of the pandemic. Going back through all of my writing over the last almost three years, here and in personal diaries, I noticed so much how the writing was hopeful and equally despairing - but I also reread your comments.

I have always been so grateful for your support. Sometimes I feel like it is impossible to truly show how grateful I am. Your comments over the years have lifted me up, encouraged me, kept me going, and inspired me.

You’re the reason I could write this book.

The pandemic has been crushing for a lot of families. Going back through my writing, preparing this book – was painful for me. When I read my diary, the things I wrote about - mentioning ‘this virus’ on the horizon - it felt so foreboding.

The pandemic has taken a lot from us – emotionally it has been draining for all of us, financially it has hurt so much, and it has brought fear into our homes when many of us already knew all too well the dangers of viruses.

I will not pretend that any part of this active and ongoing pandemic has been good for our family and others. It has taken a toll on all of us.

But - this pandemic has reminded me more than anything how much we need community and how much we need to turn toward each other rather than away from each other.

In the times when I’ve been most afraid, I have been provided comfort. When we have needed help, we have been given it - unconditionally.

We have faced the unknown knowing that there is love in our community and the absence of certainty does not equal any absence of care. Our isolation has not been an isolation of love or kindness or manaaki.

I hope Needs Adult Supervision stands as a record and tribute to this time when we came together in all of our messiness and tried to reckon with what we were facing.

It is definitely a tribute to you - to this community. That you decided to pay for and share my writing is astonishing to me. I cannot put into words how much it has meant to me and my family to be able to follow this dream and let it take us wherever it takes us.

I don’t know if I’m a good adult yet – I reckon that’s something we are all still trying to figure out.

But I know we know how to love, how to care for each other, and how to grow – together.

This community here has taught me that.

This community has taught me that it is enough to just be gentle with yourself and your loved ones and spread that gentleness wherever you can. Giving what you can, sharing what you can, being open and human.

I know times are tough, that you continue to support my writing despite this is something I will never, ever take for granted.

So thank you, for that and more. I will never be able to convey just how much your support has meant to my family.

Arohanui, Emily

Reunited ❤️