I couldn't let today pass without writing about Peaches Geldof-Cohen - the sad news hit us that on Monday 7th April, a few short weeks before her younger son's 1st birthday, Peaches died 'suddenly and unexpectedly' at her home. I am completely floored. Of course, I didn't know Peaches. I'd seen her and her mama Paula around when she lived in Hastings, I followed her on Twitter and Instagram, I even talked to her through the latter (much to my excitement!)... but that's the thing... none of us really knew her but we felt like we did. She was an open soul on social media, she chatted about her love for her pets, her beautiful boys Astala and Phaedra, interspersed replies and debates with her fans next to chatting with her husband and best friend, she shared her home, music, date nights, ghost-hands, good times and bad times. So yes, to all the people criticising that none of us have the right to grieve because none of us knew her - you're wrong. And grieve we will. Peaches became somewhat of a spokeswoman for 'Attachment Parenting' over the last year, taking on the likes of Katie Hopkins and trying to break the taboo tied to a more instinctive and responsive way of raising children. She was supportive of co-sleeping, bedsharing, breastfeeding, babywearing and had an active dislike of the 'Cry It Out' method to get children to sleep. She was very vocal about these issues which gained both positive and negative publicity. She handled some stuff wrong, sure, she was no hippy perfection earth mama. But that was ok, she was always true to herself. I'm sure most of us were young, passionate and opinionated at some stage (and hopefully, still are!), being in the media spotlight should make you think about stuff before you say (or retweet it) but we all make mistakes. The thing is, Peaches loved her boys, so much, that's what shone through everything. That's what so many of us took from her in her recent years, we enjoyed parenting with her, shared the love for her kids through her many videos, pictures and escapades. We related to her and the boys. Now, those two little souls don't have their mama to cuddle up to - who can explain that to a 1 and 2 year old? How can you comfort a toddler and baby who are used to sleeping with their mama every night, cuddling and playing with her every day... that she's not there anymore? It's just so heartbreaking. Peaches had a vibrant and unsettled past but consistently claimed that marrying Tom and having the children was the thing that turned her into who she was meant to be all along.
I don't want to speculate on what happened today but I'm sure we will have some answers soon. No matter what the situation, this wasn't deserved. The boys do not deserve this. Peaches family and friends do deserve respect and quiet in their time of grieving. So, I started this post with the title of a Smiths Song, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, I believe the light Peaches has left with her husband, her sons, her family and friends will never, ever go out. I will end this post with another musical link, a song called Needle In The Hay by Elliot Smith, one of her favourite artists and my absolute all time favourite song of his. Rest in peace Peaches. Thanks for being you.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Who is Julie?30 something, mother of two gorgeous boys, lover of one gorgeous husband, perpetually living in a dream world full of wine, chocolate and artsy crafty things. Archives
February 2018
Categories |