In 2010 Lola age 6 lived in North London with her parents and younger sister Sissi. Lola is now 14, lives in the same house, and is a great swimmer. Her mother, photographer Michelle Marshall www.michell-marshall.com says “Parenting can be wonderfully fulfilling but a scary and bumpy process in equal measure”.

Original words…Lola aged 6, 2010

What you want to be when you grow up? Farm Lady.

Your favourite famous person? Tom + Jerry.

What makes you laugh/ happy? Daddy.

What makes you angry? Not having what I want to eat for dinner.

Your favorite book? Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion.

Your favorite films? Charlotte’s Web.

Your favorite places for holidays? Skiing in the French Alps.

A place that you would dream to visit? A Cloud.

Who chooses your clothes in the morning? Mummy.

Your favorite color? Silver & Gold.

Your favorite outfit? My ballet outfit.

The piece you like the most from your wardrobe? My big rainbow coloured fairy skirt (kaiya eve pettiskirt).

The next item of clothing you would like to get? Spanish flamenco dress.

Parent & Child interview revisited…Lola aged 14, 2018

What do you feel when you read what you wrote 7 years ago? Aha, I don’t even remember writing that.. it’s nice to look back at it though.

Have you changed a lot, if so in what sense? Yes.

Do you still live in the same town/house? Yep.

Do you have new ideas about the type of profession you want to embrace, or the things you want to do as an adult? At the moment I don’t have no clue at all.

What are the books, films, events that made an impression on you lately? I read something a few months ago, it said that ‘if you are ever scared that you’re not a good person just remember
that bad people don’t care about being better’.

What is the most beautiful lesson you’ve learned from your experiences so far? I’ve learnt that, when I imagine the good person that I want to be, I am capable of being that version of me.

What skills do you have, that are special/ that you are proud of? I don’t think I have any particularly special skills but I do swim four times a week.

What do you think would make a change in the world? Umm, I guess people could be more willing to embrace others that might be different to them.

Michelle

What are the main changes that happened in your life/ profession in the last 8 years?Professionally, Quirky Collective, the kidswear store I had set up is in 2010 closed its online doors in 2014 and I went back to what I know best, photography.

What is the most precious message that you have you drawn from educating your child? Parenting can be wonderfully fulfilling but a scary and bumpy process in equal measure.

What makes you happy about your family? When everybody is happy.

Has your child evolved the way you thought she would? She’s maturing into her own person.

What is your recipe for happiness? Good food.

Your formula to keep the family healthy? Laughter, good food and travels (individually or as package, the latter being the ultimate formula!)

A quote from an author/ thinker/ artist that you particularly like?

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

Kahlil Gibran

Original Parent & Child interview Michelle & Lola 

Michelle & Lola Parent & Child interview revisited