This September you start school... SCHOOL! How are you going to school? For some reason when I think of you going to school I bypass the whole actual school bit and have visions of you knocking around in a park with a gang of lads drinking Mad Dog 20/20 kiwi flavour (shudder). I feel that the past four years have gone in such an instant my heart can't stand that the next 14 may go even quicker. I want time to stop. To freeze. To go back.
I want to repeat this year time and time again. The year where you could hold proper conversations with me. Where your tantrums were short and limited mainly to outfit choices (I have now learnt in no uncertain terms you are a 'no jeans' kinda gal). Where you helped with your little brother when I needed baby wipes to wipe snotty noses or stinky bums. Where I think you drew me, on average, five pictures a day. More often than not one of me and you. Or Elsa. You wrote Mummy, Erin, Emma on repeat.
The times you would stand in the mirror willing your hair to grow and me pretending that it had and you were almost just like Rapunzel. Afternoons, where I was so tired from one thing or another, spent in bed watching films or your random choices on Netflix. Who knew Emperors New Groove would be such a hit? Afternoons out at friends houses. Mooching down to Poundland whilst your brother snoozed in his buggy.
I want to erase the fact that sometimes? I found getting you out of the house for pre-school such a struggle I would get a nervous tummy around 8am and more often than not we had to run to get there on time. I want to erase the fact that I would moan you were there only three hours and how sometimes I struggled to think of things to do with you both each afternoon. If I could guarantee that those precious afternoons continued for the next twelve years I would be a happy lady.
When you read this back I want you to know you were ready for school. You were excited for school and your only concern was that I bought the correct pink summer dress. You told me recently that I wasn't to be sad. That I wasn't to miss you as you're only really staying for your dinner and you be back in time for tea. And you're right. It's only an extra few hours.
I know the past four years I've not always been the best Mummy and often teacher shouty Mummy would make an appearance but I do want you to know that each minute - whether it was good or bad - was a pure joy. And something I will NEVER forget. Even when you sneak in from the park. Well past your curfew. Smelling a bit of kiwi flavoured booze.
All my love
Mummy xxx
And here is a short little vlog of some of the daft fun we got up to on her afternoons off.
Awww lovely lovely post. We got our email at 2am and I still can't believe he's ready for school this year. I think I'm going to bawl when the time comes. How has it gone by so fast?
ReplyDeleteI don't know I will be so upset! But at least you still have your lovely little one to look forward to! x
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous post, I'm sure your gorgeous girl will do you proud at school
ReplyDeleteI always stayed close to my Mum and even now I'm a 28 year old married Mum I still call my Mum if I need her, we go on shopping trips, spa days and out for lunch and I'm sure you'll have that too xx
I hope so! I really do. It does worry me a little bit that we won't be besties anymore :( x
DeleteOh love this is absolutely gorgeous. She's such a lovely little girl and it'll be so wonderful to watch her learn at school and grow into the big girl she will become xxx
ReplyDeleteAh she is beaut and hopefully she will just keep on getting more and more lovely. Bless her x
DeleteThis is gorgeous Emma, it's our turn next year for O going to school and I feel sick at the thought of it. I don't think I'll ever be ready.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post xx
Ah thanks Jo! I am so worried! It makes me feel a little bit sick x
DeleteWeeping reading that! Dread to think what I'll be like when my youngest starts school next year.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely girl (and she's lucky to have you as her Mum). x
Ah thanks! She is really lovely and is so funny. I adore her x
DeleteAww! What a lovely post...They grow up so fast don't they!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure she will love school and do you proud xxx
Yeah she is defo going to be a total beauty when she is older. Like your two x
DeleteOk, that made me cry! Now I'm off to compose my own emotional message for my daughter... (if I can stop crying for long enough first!)
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha ha! Please do not cry! I will be weeping in September. I need to get my act together! x
DeleteAwww I remember this time last year well! I was so worried about whether E was ready for school and it turns out he was ready but I wasn't!
ReplyDeleteLove the video - she is one gorgeous girl (must get it from her mummy!)
xx
Same here! She doesn't care!!! x
DeleteSuch a gorgeous gorgeous post lovely. x
ReplyDeleteThanks beaut and I hope you get your places sorted out at school x
DeleteYes I am weeping. Beautiful, lovely, gorgeous. She is so grown up.... (sobs again). Such lovely photos of you both. Big weepy hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteOh big weepy hugs back. I hope Paris is AMAZING! x
DeleteEeek I am crying. That is all. Little beauty xxx
ReplyDeleteHA! Love you x
DeleteAah this is beautiful. It made me cry. Such a lovely heartfelt post. Lord help me when Grace goes off to school, I shall be a blubbering wreck x x
ReplyDeleteOh god it is so very very traumatic isn't it?! x
DeleteOh Wowzers. So adorable! She is such a little cutie and you sound like a pretty awesome mummy. It will be fine and she sounds so ready for it. Beautiful post. X
ReplyDeleteThanks lovely. She is a star. I love her so much x
DeleteThis just made me cry. So lovely x
ReplyDeleteAh I am sorry!!! x
DeleteI love this post. Totally beautiful and totally sums up what parenting is like: hard when you're in it and hard to look back and realise bits are gone for good. xx
ReplyDeleteARRRGGGHHHHHH! So sad! x
DeleteAw a gorgeous post, I'm welling up here, time goes so quickly but look at all the gorgeous memories you have and so many more to come. I was a bit wobbly when O started school, so emotional, really hit me but it's been an amazing new chapter for us both and watching him grow and learn and feel so stimulated and happy has been incredible x
ReplyDeleteYes! Good to look at the positives! She will love it an she is so excited to have her dinner there! Ha ha ha xxx
DeleteOh Em, I am welling up. You and your daughter always seem like such partners in crime! I love the pics of you getting up to mischief together. There will still be plenty of time for that before she's drinking luminous alcohol in the park instead of swinging! Sob. xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm welling up already reading this and my little lady is only 11 months old. So lovely and so honest. She's such a lucky girl xxx
ReplyDeleteSob sob sob! Hope today hasn't been too traumatic and that she went off happy and skipping. I love her saying she's just staying for her dinner. So cute!
ReplyDelete