‘The glory of God is a person fully alive.’

The affirmation by St Irenaeus of Lyon has inspired Paul Mitchell in his life as parent, writer, poet, educator and learner.

In this series of essays and articles, written over many years and for a variety of journals, he reflects on the joys and challenges of being a parent and teacher; he shares tender experiences of what worked, what did not and the struggle to recognise that parenting skills must adapt as children grow and develop their own personalities.

Here is a master storyteller at work, someone whose faith informs his natural gifts. His deep understanding that resurrection is about our everyday lives is reflected in the stories of ordinary events, the surprises we meet along the way, and the people who enhance our love for life, our children, our partners and ourselves.