From the editor

Mum, aren't you going to have some?" We'd just spent the morning at the beach.

- Dana Diament

It was school holidays. My daughter had made "juice" in her rockpool kitchen. My son had built a "shaping bay". We found a teepee made of driftwood and sat inside doing not much at all. Now, still barefoot, salty and sun-warmed, they were sharing a bowl of hot chips.

"These are the best chips ever," my son said. "I can't believe you're not having any."

I told him I was on a cleanse.

"What's a cleanse?"

I tried to explain to my children that I'm saying no to something I love for a reason they couldn't quite see. It's not about punishment or control, but care. I told them I am listening to my body and giving my body a chance to reset. It might not feel good now, but it would later.

They paused, chip in hand. I offered a metaphor about sharing toys - how it can feel hard to give something up but kind, too. Not all joy is instant.

"Yeah," my son said, "but I'm still going to eat this hot chip."