One down two to go. Officially my parenting duties to Angel end today. It's a funny feeling. Everything people say to you is true: the years just fly by. You were still my little girl even 3 years ago. Now you are taller than me and a proper grown up person, kind of. There will be interesting times ahead: How do I parent an 'adult' who is still in school and still dependent? Did I sign up for this? I never thought so far ahead when I held my gorgeous baby girl in my arms.
We're similar and so different too. You love listening to music, you're artistic and creative - I admire your style and I'm in awe of what you can achieve with make-up, a hairdryer and a GHD. We both live on our laptops, but you makes videos that are viewed by thousands.
You've always supported me, and you say you don't need to lie to me. I so hope that continues. I think it will.
Your childhood did not turn out the way I would have hoped. Your idyllic baby and toddler years ended abruptly in October 1996 when Smiley was born. You didn't complain, you just gave lots of love and time to your tiny sister. I will always remember the day you visited the Intensive Care Unit in your fairy wings and white tutu. You waved your wand around as though trying to make the babies well again, and sang at the top of your four-year old voice: "To make them happy, Mammy."
You've always been thoughtful and considerate - even in the manner of your birth on the second day of my maternity leave at just 38 weeks. At 8am you signalled your arrival and I finally got to meet you 12 hours later. At just 5lb 3 oz you were a little scrap of a thing with a mop of black hair and I fell in love straight away. "Bring me back my baby!" was the first thing I said as they whisked you off to check you. Later you were taken to the nursery as was the custom then. I checked on you throughout the night: easy to do, there was a sea of babies in the nursery, but right in the middle was a teeny tiny baby with a hat on, to keep you extra warm.
Today you turn 18, and there's a lots of things I'd love to say, but I'm not great at expressing how I feel. If I was, I would like to have written a post like this, by auntiegwen. But there's one thing I do have to say:
Happy Birthday Angel!
Note: some of you may have seen this photo before, but sadly I've lost my scanner!
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ReplyDeleteI think by writing that blog you have shown how good you are at expressing how you feel, your love for your daughter shines through in abundance, it made me smile this morning. Beautiful post. xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your beautiful daughter! :) xx
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Angel!
ReplyDeleteWishing you happy celebration of your daughter's life!
ReplyDelete"end today" - woh! Not. As you said, "still in school and still dependent". As in, not fully "adult". We are only few months behind you for this marker day. And as I remind ours, 18 only means the civil right to vote, the earned privilege to drive a car, but not even the privilege to buy alcohol (here).
Lots of important brain growth occurs (for most) after age 18 years. 'Tis a good thing, I think, that they are still under our influence into their 3rd decade. (Don't know if that will make you feel better or worse.)
Barbara
Aw - that exudes the love you feel for your gorgeous daughter - happy 18th to her and to you for being a clever Mummy 18 years ago. Lovely photo of you both, too. It's true that time whizzes by and we all need to stop and smell the roses along the way....
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your beautiful daughter and congrats to you for making it so far along the way. There is a lot to be said for the mother who makes it 18 years as much as for the child who makes it that far. May you both enjoy her special day together!
ReplyDeleteThe very heartiest congratulations to you and your beautiful daughter xxx
ReplyDeleteps knitwear patterns are spookily similar in the Celtic states, my 18 year old had a hat like that :)
@Andra - thank you so much xxx
ReplyDelete@Marylin - it's lovely of you to drop by :)
@Foodie - :D
@Barbara - I didn't grow up until I was at least 25
@Lora - thank you
@auntiegwen - Aah but I didn't knit it! xxx
Oh what an absolutely lovely post! The relationship that you have with your daughter sounds wonderful-which is a testament to your parenting! Thank you for sharing this..and happy birthday to your girl! (no matter how old she gets-she will always be just that..:) )
ReplyDeleteHappy happy birthday :)
ReplyDeleteAhhhhh such a lovely photo and what a proud mammy you are. xx
ReplyDeleteI hope your Angel had a lovely birthday...congratulations to her. And your post did say it all. :) xx
ReplyDeleteA belated birthday wish. I always wonder reading these types of posts if my own parents ever feel or felt as deeply about me. I do hope so, but doubt they would ever express it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteMy sister's 18yr old girl has just left home for college, and she's devastated, but bursting with pride at the same time.
You have done so well to have produced a daughter you are filled with love, admiration and pride for. I really hope I can write a similar post in a few years time.
XXX
Hi-I tagged you in my latest blogpost-and gave you a blogger award...:)
ReplyDelete@kathleen - thank you for the comment and the award, will pop over and collect :)
ReplyDelete@Casdok, Helen and Chic Mama - thank you so much xx
@Madame - Mine would not have expressed it either but I'm sure they and yours feel or felt the same.
@Jean - You are a wonderful Mum and writer so I just know that you will be writing something memorable and moving in a few years xxx
This is my second attempt to comment so I hope it works this time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post and tribute to your gorgeous Angel. And how well you express yourself.
A big, huge, Happy 18th to your baby Angel ;-)
xx Jazzy
@Jazzy - I wonder why you couldn't comment before? Thanks for coming back a second time - and your visit now makes this the most popular post I've ever written: Angel is delighted xx
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, brought a tear to my eye- Angel sounds like a wonderful daughter
ReplyDeletex
Aw, this brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye! I love the image of her in her fairy wings....gorgeous. What a lovely pair you are.
ReplyDeletethis is so beautiful - brought a tear to my eye. I too am blessed with a wonderful daughter and even though she's still only 4, I can see the wonderful woman she will turn out to be. Happy, happy birthday Angel. I hope all your wishes come true xx
ReplyDelete@Rachel - she is x
ReplyDelete@Christine - thanks so much for reading, so glad you enjoyed it :)
@Taz - thank you and I hope so too xx
I loved reading this again. Funny, I've just written a post about my 10 year old daughter today. I look forward to writing one like this when she's 18 xxx
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sweet post! I hope the birthday was a very sweet and happy one. I like to write posts on my bird's birthday, too. It's great to go back and look at them later, too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Blog Gem!
This is a lovely post and I really know how you feel. With a son of 19 and a daughter of 16 those childhood memories become so important. I think you should look back and see what a great job you've done x
ReplyDeleteHi, I just found you through blog gems. A lovely post, I can hardly imagine by baby turning 18 (my blog gem post is to him turning one!) but I know I will look back and think it passed in the blink of an eye.
ReplyDeleteNo no no, my little girl will always be my little princess. She won't be though will she? Great post, well written
ReplyDeleteI came by through Blog Gems too! This is beautiful, thanks for re-posting! x
ReplyDeleteNow that I have met you in person I can say you haven't change a bit, that is a fab photo of you and Angel:) Jen
ReplyDelete@Jean - I'm glad that you enjoyed it again xxx
ReplyDelete@Dani G - her birthday was a pretty typical teen affair: a trip out to see a band and a sleepover with her friends, but all went well. Thanks for visiting :)
@Suzie - Thank you!
@Emma - I know what you mean as for years I thought she would always be my little girl
@Alan - of course she will :)
@Linz - thank you x
@Jen - your're too kind - the idea was that I would be unrecognisable from that photo!
I was drawn to your post by the title, having not been here before and having had a son just turn eighteen...now I have to confess to just a tiny tear! You said so much in what you didn't say. I too was surprised at my own emotions when my son turned eighteen last month, I hid behind humour, as is my way. But there is something about that coming-of-age, we can't imagine it when they are born and then suddenly, here it is and there it was.....
ReplyDelete@Baggywrinkle Mamma - thank you for dropping by and following and congratulations to you and your son.
ReplyDeletein tears
ReplyDeleteso beautiful
@Floortime Lite Mama - Aww thank you. And do you know? She'll be 20 this year, so hard to believe
ReplyDelete