No doubt someone out there is probably saying "why doesn't she iron her own? She is 17!" Well the answer is cos she is my baby, and therefore in keeping with her grandfather's tradition she is my favorite younger daughter (my FYD). The privilege of that title means I get to iron her uniforms ...or so she tells me. Conned? Definitely!
The uniform is complete and ready for my girl to wear. I know she feels ripped off because her friends finished their exams eight days ago. All I can do is give her a hug and tell her to hang in there. She has grown up a lot in the last few weeks, so much so that the uniform is starting to look a bit silly on her. She is not a child anymore but a woman being forced to wear a school uniform.
And suddenly nostalgia overtakes me and the video in my head starts to play. I see a seven week premature baby lifting her tiny head in defiance. I see an over zealous dancing toddler who ripped her dance costume five minutes before going on stage and still won the competition. Then there was primary school - give her a roll of sticky tape and a stapler and she'd make you anything! I see the shy child who went from needing hearing aids in primary school to singing in front of thousands. And I see the dance classes, the trophies, the arguments about home work, the maths book being flung from one side of the room to the other, the singing to One Direction on the way to school, the playing of Calamity Jane in the school play and her deep love for family and friends.
Excerpts from my daughter's life continue to flash through my head. I see the cuddles in bed. I see Toni the teddy bear who travelled everywhere we went - even overseas! I remember the mad rush back to a hotel when Toni was forgotten and my young child's relief when he was retrieved. There was singing with her sister, marathons of Friends, staying up to watch Telethon and the total indignation when her " tree" was cut down.
Its hard to cut the apron strings and especially so when its your youngest. In a few weeks the husband and I will have no choice when she boards a plane for Europe...on her own. I must need my head examined saying yes to her travelling for 44 days without me! I am besides myself with worry but I know I have to let her go and explore this world. Its the right thing to do.
And so with change in the wind I feel a bit unsettled. School days are over in this house and they are all I know. I want to shout out " bring on the next phase of our lives" but maybe while I get used to this change I will whisper it.
PS: Sweetheart if you're reading this, make sure you buy me a good present while you're away! I may need a new apron. This one has only one string and is sopping wet!
And suddenly nostalgia overtakes me and the video in my head starts to play. I see a seven week premature baby lifting her tiny head in defiance. I see an over zealous dancing toddler who ripped her dance costume five minutes before going on stage and still won the competition. Then there was primary school - give her a roll of sticky tape and a stapler and she'd make you anything! I see the shy child who went from needing hearing aids in primary school to singing in front of thousands. And I see the dance classes, the trophies, the arguments about home work, the maths book being flung from one side of the room to the other, the singing to One Direction on the way to school, the playing of Calamity Jane in the school play and her deep love for family and friends.
Excerpts from my daughter's life continue to flash through my head. I see the cuddles in bed. I see Toni the teddy bear who travelled everywhere we went - even overseas! I remember the mad rush back to a hotel when Toni was forgotten and my young child's relief when he was retrieved. There was singing with her sister, marathons of Friends, staying up to watch Telethon and the total indignation when her " tree" was cut down.
Its hard to cut the apron strings and especially so when its your youngest. In a few weeks the husband and I will have no choice when she boards a plane for Europe...on her own. I must need my head examined saying yes to her travelling for 44 days without me! I am besides myself with worry but I know I have to let her go and explore this world. Its the right thing to do.And so with change in the wind I feel a bit unsettled. School days are over in this house and they are all I know. I want to shout out " bring on the next phase of our lives" but maybe while I get used to this change I will whisper it.
PS: Sweetheart if you're reading this, make sure you buy me a good present while you're away! I may need a new apron. This one has only one string and is sopping wet!
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You made me cry! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm crying too
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