Life By Tok

.

teacher, mother, feline lover

Welcome! I’m a teacher by trade, a mum by heart, and a cat lover by devotion. Life here is a mix of lesson plans, dirty nappies, paint splatter, and the tumble weeds of cat hair consuming the household. This blog is a little window into that world in the form of poetry – full of love, sorrow, and meaning. I hope you enjoy.

my many faces

Teacher: A treasured gift from a student, Georgia Rowley.
Mother: My creation dedicated to my son, Noah.
Feline Lover: A portrait of my first born, Besh, by the incredible, Zoe Blake.

What drives me…

Tok-osophy

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain.

This quote may be overused, but honestly, when you add meaning in your life whether it be found or created, your outlook changes drastically. Everything becomes worthwhile and in my case, so much more energy and a longing to live life is felt.

My state of mind shifted when my son was born. I knew I had to change if I was going to survive the brutal and beautiful thing that is motherhood. I started seeing the beauty in small things, to go to bed with a smile and tell myself how lucky I am in this life.

I have not found why I was born or why I was placed on this earth. Life would go on if I was not here, I have not made a significant difference to peoples lives, so why was I placed here?

It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter how little or big the impact you make is in this world. I have discovered that while I am here, I will enjoy my time. Telling myself I am worthy of happiness and actively showing how grateful I am for this life, these people, these opportunities.

That’s what my poetry is about, my life.

Dr. Seuss

Dr Suess, another truly great inspiration. My son, Noah, absolutely loves listening to the magical words of Dr. Suess. I want to create that nostalgic, wholesome, whimsical and cheerful feeling through my work, like the one and only, Dr Suess.

Poetry.

The following is dedicated to the beings in my life that I will hold in my heart forever.

10 Things I Love About You

Month

September, 2025

Author

Andrea Tokatlidis

I love it when you smile and there’s a twinkle in your eye.

I love it when you yawn, followed by a little sigh.

I love it when you nuzzle into my neck as I hold you near.

I love it when you fall asleep in my arms and it’s your breath I hear.

I love it when you screech with excitement at something that you see.

I love it when you wave your arms and kick your feet with glee.

I love it when you curl your toes and hold my finger tight.

I love it when you look around with curiosity and might.

I love it when you search the stars when you’re sleeping near.

I love watching you grow each day and it’s changing you, my dear.

But mostly I love the way I love you, as I have never loved like this before.

Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

The inspirational moment for this poem hit me when we went on our first holiday as a family to Phillip Island. It must have been the ocean breeze or the full moon. Whatever it was, I truly mean every word. This wonderful photo was taken by my husband outside our hotel.

More Than A Cat

Month

December, 2023

Author

Andrea Tokatlidis

You’re more than a cat.

That is that.

You meow, you purr,

covered in fur.

But you’re more than a cat,

You’re my friend.

That is that.

You have a tail, you eat fish,

sometimes food off my dish.

But you’re more than a cat.

You’re my confidant.

That is that.

You have wandering eyes, fleeting movements,

sometimes in disguise.

But you’re more than a cat,

You’re my guardian.

That is that.

You give me presents, catching mice,

you do not think twice.

But you’re more than a cat.

You’re my baby.

That is that.

You are stealthy, you are quick,

your paws are very slick.

But you’re more than a cat.

You’re my world.

That is that.

The inspiration for this poem is dedicated to my first born, Bechamel Sauce AKA Besh. When we adopted him, we felt like a family.

It was the year 2019, the first day we moved into our home we decided it was missing something very important, something crucial to make our house feel warm, cosy and filled with love (and fur). A cat. Not just any cat, but our baby.

An impulse decision, but one we knew felt right.

He was the first to make us feel like a family.

Authenticity

Why be authentic?

Read about the significance of authenticity in the digital world through my perspective.

view

More Poetry.

My art.

Read and immerse yourself in the many facets that have shaped my simple life and how they have made it extraordinary.

VIEW

Everyday Life.

The by-product of my inner workings.

Read about my life as a mother, teacher and feline lover. Come and laugh with me and cry with me, but please, don’t judge me as I share the world through my eyes.

VIEW

← Back

Thank you for your response. ✨

Rate your experience(required)