Iced Chocolates and Radioactive Squirrels
By Khaiah Thomson
Photo by Steve Douglas on Unsplash
I’ve always imagined a squirrel's nest as a hole in the trunk of a tree lined with soft feathers and leaves to keep them warm. Given that we don’t have squirrels in Western Australia, I’ve relied on picture books and movies to accurately depict a squirrel's nest, and I’ve never questioned it—then again, maybe Bali squirrels are a different breed. At this moment, I’m sitting on my hotel balcony watching squirrels dive in and out of a hive-like contraption of sticks, twigs, and leaves, somehow held together between the outer bushy branches of a tree. I’d love to know what holds it all together: tree sap? Saliva? Human hair?
This has been our first family holiday outside of Western Australia, and there is something special about watching your kids experience things for the first time. The way their faces light up when the plane takes off. The lightbulb moment when they see the smorgasbord of food at breakfast and realize they can have whatever they want (four iced chocolates, yes please!). Then there is the excitement of seeing monkeys for the first time, which quickly morphs into fear as a gang of them descends on our villa, baring their fangs when they spot a jar of M&Ms. And those busy Bali squirrels—so cute until they mistake my five-year-old son’s finger for a salty chip. Some alcohol wipes and a bottle of peroxide later, he’s convinced the squirrel is radioactive and quietly hoping that one morning he will wake up as Squirrel Boy.
It really has been special and yet exhausting, as is to be expected with young kids. It turns out the 7-year-old testosterone-driven attitude doesn’t stay at home for the holidays; it comes along too, but then again, so does the I’ve-asked-you-nicely-three-times-already cranky mum attitude. According to a reliable source (my sister), peak relaxation hits at day eight of a holiday. It turns out I am a pro at being both relaxed and a cranky pants at the same time. I can lie on a daybed, baking in the sun with one eye open while screeching at my kids to stop jumping off the mermaid water fountain and splashing the other patrons trying to relax and enjoy themselves.
Yes, some of the time (most of the time), we are that family…
Day two of our holiday was a Sunday. I sat by the pool under an ancient frangipani tree and read my daily devotion, which detailed how creation is a demonstration of God’s good and abundant grace. I watched a pair of birds drinking water from the side of the pool and asked God to help me pay attention to all of the amazing things He has created in this beautiful place, that I would see His grace in abundance, and that I would notice the brush strokes in all He has created. As He often does, God answered my prayer, but in a different way than I expected.
For the first two nights of our holiday, my 7-year-old son found it difficult to sleep. On the third night, he asked to talk to his dad alone while I took our youngest up to bed. Afterward, my husband told me that the place made him (seven-year-old) feel unsafe and that he thought he saw shadows there. Perhaps it was simply the experience of holidaying and sleeping in a foreign place, learning that monkeys have huge fangs, or maybe, like me, God gave him a sense of wariness. Either way, my husband had a father-son opportunity to put his heart at ease and remind our son that God is our protector, that He loves us, and to pray for His protection.
In everyday life back at home, like the Bali squirrels, my husband and I dart here and there, getting caught up in the daily grind of work, chores, social outings, family commitments, and kids' sports as we build and maintain our nest. There are many times, often at night as I try to sleep, when I wonder if I am investing enough in my boys' spiritual and character growth. Then the next morning comes, we rush to get ready for work and school, and I fall back into the usual routine.
When life gets busy and chaotic, it is easy to miss the narrow windows of opportunity, and yet, like the father-son moment that my husband was able to have with our 7-year-old while on this holiday, God is gracious to hand us these moments.
As I pondered this, I thought back on the many opportunities where God’s brushstrokes are most evident. God has gifted me many important moments with my kids. It often comes with the gentle message, “I’ve prepared this moment for you; don’t miss it.” Even with the distractions of an all-you-can-eat buffet, endless pool fun, worrying if squirrels have rabies, and amazing massages, God still provides those moments.
His grace also shines through in the everyday occurrences that weave together to create the tapestry of our lives. It’s in the shared laughter (and maybe a few tears) over a monkey stealing a jar of M&Ms, the comforting hug after a squirrel bite, and the simple act of watching birds drink from the pool. These moments, too, are brushstrokes of God’s grace, reminders that He is present in every aspect of our journey.
Today, on my last day before returning to reality and the cool, frigid temperatures of Perth, I think about how easy it is to get caught up in the quest for that perfect holiday, the flawless family memory. But the reality is, life is busy, messy, unpredictable, and far from perfect. There are tantrums, tears, and the occasional radioactive squirrel scare. And yet, it’s in these imperfections that we often find the greatest beauty, the deepest connections, and the most profound moments of grace. It’s a reminder that even amidst the chaos, the attitude, and the crankiness, there is always something to be grateful for, something to cherish, and something to recognise as a gift from above. So, bring on the iced chocolates, the mischievous monkeys, and even the slightly alarming squirrels – because it’s all part of the adventure, and it’s all infused with grace.
If you liked this, sign up to get honest stories from Christian women in Western Australia in your inbox on Wednesdays ❤️
Regular Contributor—Khaiah Thomson
West Australian Author Khaiah Thomson pens the Blackwood series. The first book Welcome to Blackwood won the Hawkeye Publishing Manuscript Development Prize in 2020. Khaiah first decided to write young adult fiction novels as a way to exercise her brain while on maternity leave. She wanted to create a magical escape for young readers, all the while gently weaving in themes of God’s love through the timeless battles of good versus evil, unconditional love and the power of redemption.
Khaiah lives in Perth with her husband and two sons. When she isn't working or in her home office writing, Khaiah can usually be found nose-deep in a book, gaming or at the nearest cafe, hovering close to the coffee machine. Khaiah’s Welcome to Blackwood series can be found in all good bookstores and Hawkeye Books.