Those 18 years have flown by but what fun we’ve had.
So now you can have your 1st (legal) alcoholic beverage, drive a car and attend appointments without a parent.
It’s a bitter sweet moment seeing you grow up into an independent lady.
We’re so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved. It’s been a challenging year or so for you, losing close loved ones, juggling a new job, A levels, driving lessons and some health issues but despite it all, you just get on with it and give it all your best shot.
You’re an old, wise soul, mature beyond your 18 years, but you’ll always be our little girl!
Motherhood is precious but childhood goes too fast.
Happy 14th Birthday Son, we’re sure this will be one you won’t forget (lock down 2020!)
We are so proud of the young man that you’ve become I don’t think any parent could wish for a better Son than you, your love and respect shines through in all that you do and your polite and caring personality makes us so proud to be your parents.
We have to thank you Dylan. You were easy from the start.
Easy conception, easy pregnancy, easy birth and easy to love.
I also want to thank you for making me a more ‘Present Parent’.
First time around as a new mum everything’s new and frightening. You just don’t really know what to expect or know what you are doing?
It’s a learning process full of doubts, tears and fears!
So caught up in dirty nappies, sleepless nights and parenting anxiety, it’s hard to enjoy those first few years as a new mum.
But by the second child most of us are feeling a bit more confident, but alas, sadly for some, complacent.
You taught me how to enjoy being a mum. And how to appreciate every minute as special. And you always make us smile!
Can see you as the next Simon Cowell!
Your love made ordinary moments most would take for granted as precious and unique.
You made me notice them.
You made me present to the joy of being a parent and of being your Mum. A privilege I’ll always hold dear. Such as the time when you were just three years young. I was taking you to the Dentist, when as we were holding hands and crossing the road out of the blue you said;
‘I love you Mum.’
I can still remember to this day thinking that this was such a good moment in my life. I wanted my mind to photograph it forever, so that when we were both older, we could look back upon that ordinary moment, with fondness of a great time. A time when we were both truly present together, enjoying one another’s company.
We were just going about our daily business. Yet, it was such an extraordinary, emotional moment for me. So much so that, I can still feel those positive, loving, warm, fuzzy feelings deep inside me, whenever I recall that moment now.
As normal and mundane as a trip to the dentist with your child may sound, I can guarantee that in years to come, you too will realise how special those everyday moments in time really are. Even if those moments do not feel like it today. Even the loss of their 1st tooth!
1st baby tooth to go!
One day, those simple everyday memories, will be where you will linger longingly, wishing you could go back to.
Making Memories.
Noticing, appreciating and being fully present in those moments we are spending with our children today, is what Present Parenting is all about.
Because one day those moments, will be some of the best moments in our lives.
They truly are priceless, irreplaceable nuggets of time, that we all too often take for granted because, we are disillusioned by the concept that, the work and worries that occupy our minds, are the things that need our attention the most.
Yet, neither now nor in the future, will anyone or anything, ever bring us the joy, fulfilment or happiness that our children do.
Always smiling.
It’s who we are with, and the love and time we give that counts!
If today was the only time we had left on Planet Earth, chances are we would not want to clean our house or work overtime, schmoozing our boss for a pay rise. Chances are, we would want to spend our time with our loved ones, having fun and letting them know how much we love them, while appreciating, how much we too, are loved by them.
We don’t always remember the dates or details in life, but we always remember how we felt, this is what our children will always remember too. It doesn’t matter what we have or achieve in life, it’s all a waste of time, it’s who we are with, and the love and time we give that counts!
Childhood doesn’t last forever. When our children reach their teens, it’s going to be too late to regret, not having had the time to, paint, play, cook, read, sing, dance and enjoy our time with them, while young.
Make the most of now, and start to live in and enjoy each and every moment with your child, from now on. Tomorrow is promised to no one, stay present and be generous with that time. If you knew this was your last day ever with your child, you would hang on to their every word and not waste a single second of that time, and bear in mind, one day will be the last day you spend together.
There’s no time like the present, and no present like time!
Easy conception, easy pregnancy, easy birth
and easy to love.
Today on this special 13th birthday,
celebrating you becoming a teenager, I also want to thank you for making me a more
present parent.
First time around, as a new mum everything’s
new and frightening. You just don’t really know what to expect or know what you
are doing?
It’s a learning process full of doubts, tears
and fears!
So caught up in dirty nappies, sleepless nights
and parenting anxiety, it’s hard to enjoy those first few years as a new mum.
But by the second child most of us are feeling a bit more confident, but alas, sadly for some, complacent and busy.
You taught me how to enjoy being a mum. And
how to appreciate every minute as special.
Your love makes ordinary moments most would
take for granted, as precious and unique.
You made me notice them.
You made me present to the joy of being a
parent and of being your Mum. A privilege I’ll always hold dear.
Such as the time when you were just three
years young. I was taking you to the Dentist, when as we were holding hands and
crossing the road, out of the blue you said;
‘I love
you Mum.’
I can still remember to this day, thinking
that this was such a good moment in my life.
I wanted my mind to photograph it forever, so that when we were both
older, we could look back upon that ordinary moment, with fondness.
A great time, when we were both truly present
together, enjoying one another’s company.
We were just going about our daily business. Yet,
it was such an extraordinary, emotional moment for me. So much so that, I can
still feel those positive, loving, warm, fuzzy feelings deep inside me,
whenever I recall that moment now.
Even now, you still greet me on the school
yard every day with a kiss, hug, pat on the back and a ‘I love you.’
I know I’ve said you don’t need to do that in
public now, in case it’s embarrassing?
And you said ‘No I want to. It’s not
embarrassing’.
And I melt inside with pride, that you are not
afraid to openly show your love.
I don’t know what I have done to deserve such
beautiful, loving children but I’m glad I’ve be blessed with you both.
As normal and mundane as a trip to the dentist
with your child may sound, I can guarantee that in years to come, you too will
realise how special those everyday moments in time really are. Even if those
moments do not feel like it today.
One day, those simple everyday memories, will
be where you will linger longingly, wishing you could go back to.
Noticing, appreciating and being fully present
in those moments we are spending with our children today, is what Present
Parenting is all about. Because one day those moments, will be some of the best
moments in our lives.
They truly are priceless, irreplaceable
nuggets of time.
Time we all too often take for granted,
because we are disillusioned by the concept that, the work and worries that
occupy our minds, are the things that need our attention the most. Yet, neither
now nor in the future, will anyone or anything, ever bring us the joy,
fulfilment or happiness that our children do.
It’s who we are with, and the love
and time we give that counts!
If today was the only time we had left on
Planet Earth, chances are we would not want to clean our house or work
overtime, schmoozing our boss for a pay rise?
Chances are, we would want to spend our time
with our loved ones?
Having fun and letting them know how much we
love them. While appreciating, how much we too, are loved by them.
We don’t always remember the dates or details
in life, but we always remember how we felt. This is what our children will
always remember too.
It doesn’t matter what we have or achieve in
life, it’s all a waste of time, it’s who we are with and the love and time we
give, that counts!
Childhood doesn’t last forever. When our
children reach their teens, it’s going to be too late to regret, not having had
the time to; paint, play, cook, read, sing, dance and enjoy our time with them,
while young.
Make the most of now, and start to live in and
enjoy each and every moment with your child, from now on.
Tomorrow is promised to no one, stay present
and be generous with that time.
If you knew this was your last day ever with
your child, you would hang on to their every word and not waste a single second
of that time. Always keep in mind, one day will be the last day you spend
together.
There’s no time like the present, and no
present like time!
