Today, she is six

To prove the adage 'time flies' is correct, the little girl turned six today.

I'm lucky to be a mum to this firecracker of girl.

She loves hard, she feels big, her smile lights up the room and my heart.

She wants to be an artist when she grows up.

A joker and a ham, with pen forever on her hand.

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Girl, you'll be a woman soon. But not as soon as you'd like.

Maia, the day you've been waiting for has finally arrived- your first day of school.  To you, the transition from 'little' to 'big' girl, the giddy expectation of following in your brother's footsteps, the tantalisation of reading and writing and drawing and learning and playing all day long. 

To me, a shift in our family dynamic. Just where, exactly, did my babies go?  There are long-limbed, semi-independant imposters in their place.  So I am learning too: you need me less, you need me more, you need me differently.

Maia, you have one of the strongest spirits I've ever known.  Your loyalty and enthusiasm are the things of legend.

You love so deeply, you burn so brightly, you feel so keenly, you hurt so badly.

My biggest wish for you is to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you: You are brave, you are strong, you are capable.

You might wobble but you can do it.  I will be here, encouraging you all the way.

Other than that, always have your umbrella in case inclement times.

Even if you use it as a weapon.

Oh, and your hair looks fine.

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The State of the Boy

Jamie had his operation yesterday; two little grommets went in and the residual regenerating adenoids came back out.

Monkey came too and even got a hospital bracelet.

The time before the operation he had probably the best time of his life. He played the new Angry Birds Space game, completed the Ward Easter Egg hunt in record time (whilst enchanting all the parents and nurses with his earnestness) and painted several hundred plaster of paris figures. And then he was called down to surgery. This time the anaesthetists were able to locate one of his miniscule little veins, so he didn't have to fret about the mask afterall. He was under for just over an hour, and in a strange episode of syncronicity I swapped messages with an American crafty mum friend whose daughter was under at the same time. I wonder if they met in the ether?

On the way home he said, 'Dad, your car sounds like a jet plane'.

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And so it begins again...

Another summer draws to a close and school begins afresh. Can you believe it's been a year since I wrote tender loving sentiments through the tears as his uniform was put on for the first time? *

Although it looks like they might have, don't worry, his little legs didn't break on the way to school. Like 98% of his physiogonomy-- not my genetic contribution.

Look who's popped in to share the joy of the first day back at school. Alas, a very short lived joy as it dawned on her at the school gates that her constant companion for the last seven weeks has been wrenched away.

If she could have, I think she would have glued her face to his.

*Rhetorical question. No pressure to leave a comment saying 'I can't believe it's been a year' or 'I totally thought it was a year.' Although feel free to start a dialogue about the speed in which this year passed like 'OMG, girl, this year!' and someone else can say, 'I know, right?'. Hold on, let me install Disqus.

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Ode to Boy

Jamie, when you woke me up yesterday morning with your small hands on my face, shouting, 'Mum, mum! One more sleep til I go to school! Are you excited to see me grow-up?' my heart broke a little bit. I've been thinking about this day in the wrong way.


Here I've been, watching you grow, willing you to grow, counting the sleeps with you towards each milestone, sharing your excitement. I didn't realise what this meant.


While I've been busy looking forward, I didn't appreciate that from now on, I will see you less than I ever have before. Maia and I will miss you.


While I've day-dreamed about the day you no longer want to sleep on my head, I didn't appreciate the closeness you crave with me. Who else will ever love me so much that they need to hold on to my ear even when sleeping?


You, my wee boy, are no longer just part of me.


You are no longer just part of your father.


You are no longer just a devoted brother to your sister.


You are still all these things, you will always be a son and brother: but now you're more. You are part of your school, part of a community, the big wide world.


The world will love you.


I will hold your hand along the way.


Onwards and upwards, pal. But not so fast.

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