Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor girl named Mary. She lived with her mother and they struggled to make ends meet. One day, Mary's mother came across a magical pot while she was out in the woods. The pot had the power to cook porridge that would never run out. Mary's mother brought the pot home, and they were overjoyed by the prospect of endless food. From that day on, the magical porridge pot became a staple in their lives.
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kidcyber has no control over the information at these sites or links made from them to others sites, which might be considered inappropriate by some people. My colleague, Jael Hill, the Service s Clinical Director, politely interjected How about porridge rather than risotto I think it s more relatable and relevant.
From that day on, the magical porridge pot became a staple in their lives. All they had to do was say the magic words, "Cook, little pot, cook," and it would start producing porridge. The pot would keep cooking until they said the second magic words, "Stop, little pot, stop.
The Magic Porridge Pot……
It’s been a bit of a trip down memory lane on Twitter this week. People posting pictures of Ladybird Books from their childhood – The Elves and the Shoemaker, Rumplestiltskin, Snow White and Rose Red…..It has been lovely to connect with a shared community of folk who can relate – the best thing by far about this online world. The images are so vibrant, and so evocative, transporting me back to simpler times; and to the other worlds I would disappear into as a child. Beautiful. Exciting. But also a bit scary – with an edge of risk and uncertainty. The Three Billy Goats Gruff was particularly terrifying for me; and we would play it over and over in our games if we were near a bridge over a stream. I still think of it now when I walk across one.
Coincidentally, The Magic Porridge Pot is a book I have been thinking about a lot lately so I dug it out and had a read. It is frighteningly relevant given the current cost of living crisis. A young girl and her single parent, too poor to afford food…..she is so hungry she is unable to play. The fantasy that an old woman in the woods gives her a magic pot that will fill her belly whenever she is hungry is especially poignant at a time when the UK has the means to provide but chooses not to. For now, at least, that is not the issue I have been pondering. Rather it is the porridge itself – or the making of it to be more precise.
I was at one of many meetings over the last year where I have been sharing and discussing the NEST Framework (described in this 3 minute animation if you are interested https://youtu.be/wYvU5t9vopI). It is a co-produced planning tool that aims to achieve a whole system approach to a address children’s mental health and well-being. The core components, or the ‘what’ are not rocket science; but the message I am always keen to emphasise is the ‘how’. We have lots of ‘professional language’ to describe the distinction between these paradigms (content/process, transactional/relational, 1st order/2nd order, ‘modelling the model’) but in a world of tick boxes and checklists it is really hard to keep this crucial distinction at the forefront without it turning into a ‘to do’ list, important as that is. I have found myself using a cooking analogy to try to describe it: “Rather than a lasagne, where you layer the individual components and put them in the oven and leave them to bake; it is more like a risotto. You always need to be stood by the pan, continuously stirring……”
This particular meeting was with the Regional MyST Service – an enactment of NEST 18 years in the making – read their brilliant blogs here https://t.co/fIzqmfmK2b. My colleague, Jael Hill, the Service’s Clinical Director, politely interjected: “How about porridge rather than risotto – I think it’s more relatable and relevant?” And she was absolutely right, of course, adding that the point about NEST is the importance of the every day basics we have to put constant work into. They are neither new or exciting, and may even be rejected as too simple – but the reality is that they are the things that sustain us all. And without them there is a risk that services become ‘all baubles and no tree’ as another brilliant colleague, and Director of Social Service for Newport, Sally Jenkins, once said, never to be forgotten.
There are more parallels than just porridge in the story of the pot that gets out of control when no-one knows how to stop it. A framework that you can create a checklist against and tick boxes to say it is complete is so appealing. But the reality is that the mental health and well-being of babies, children, parents, carers, wider families and a workforce who are also a mass of human relationships, is complex and messy. The work is never ‘done’. Instead of using our old methodologies to enact and evaluate transformational change, we need to develop new ones that can cope with this continuous flow of new and emerging ‘stuff’. Unfortunately we can’t just shout ‘stop magic pot stop’ like they do in the story. That’s not to say that there aren’t tried and tested ways to contain the complexity. Nurturing, Empowering, Safe and Trusted relationships are both the start and end of a continuous loop of supporting and learning from each other. It makes me think of the rather brilliant collaboration between Bananarma and Fun Boy Three: “It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it – and that’s what gets results”. But I may be risking a whole other Twitter wormhole with that one………
" It seemed like a dream come true. However, one day when Mary's mother was out running errands, Mary got hungry and decided to use the pot to cook herself some porridge. She filled the pot and said the magic words. But this time, something strange happened - the pot didn't stop cooking. The porridge poured out of the pot, filling up the house and overflowing onto the streets. Mary panicked and didn't know what to do. As the porridge continued to spread, the village started to get concerned. People were slipping and falling on the slippery porridge, and it became a big mess. Mary realized she needed to find a solution before things got even worse. She remembered the magic words her mother used to stop the pot - "Stop, little pot, stop." She yelled the words as loud as she could, and miraculously, the pot stopped producing porridge. The villagers were relieved as the porridge began to disappear. Mary cleaned up the mess as best as she could, and the village returned to normal. When Mary's mother returned, she scolded Mary for using the pot without her permission but eventually forgave her. From then on, Mary and her mother continued to use the magic porridge pot with caution. They only used it when they really needed it and made sure to say the stopping words loud and clear. The pot became a symbol of their gratitude and the importance of being responsible with their blessings. The main idea of this story is that with great power comes great responsibility. Mary and her mother realized this when they saw how their actions had unintended consequences. They learned to appreciate the magical pot but to use it wisely..
Reviews for "The Magic Porridge Pot: Inspiring Children to Believe in Miracles"
1. Emma - 2/5 stars - I found "The Magic Porridge Pot" to be quite repetitive and monotonous. The story revolves around a pot that keeps cooking porridge and doesn't stop until a specific command is given. While this concept seemed interesting at first, it quickly became tedious as the pot kept producing endless amounts of porridge. The storyline lacked depth and the characters were one-dimensional. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and found it to be a forgettable read.
2. James - 3/5 stars - "The Magic Porridge Pot" had a promising premise, but it fell short in execution. The story had potential with its magical element, but unfortunately, it lacked a sense of adventure or excitement. The plot was straightforward and predictable, making it less engaging for readers who seek more intricate storytelling. Additionally, the illustrations were mediocre and didn't enhance the reading experience. Although it had a couple of entertaining moments, this book didn't leave a lasting impression.
3. Olivia - 2/5 stars - I didn't enjoy "The Magic Porridge Pot" primarily because it seemed to promote laziness and lack of responsibility. The main character was portrayed as relying solely on the magical pot to feed her family, without ever working hard or making any efforts herself. This message could be misleading for young readers, as it doesn't encourage them to take initiative or develop a strong work ethic. Furthermore, the storyline lacked depth and the ending was rather anticlimactic. I wouldn't recommend this book as a positive influence on children.