Goodbye first tooth

Last Saturday night my eldest's first tooth fell out. Well I say fell out, I gave it a bit of a pluck. Don't be grossed out, it was hanging on by a thread. How she was managing to eat I really don't know. This is how it happened.

For the past few days I'd been giving the tooth a wobble but it wasn't really ready. Well on Saturday night after giving the girls a shower and washing and doing their hair I got them ready for bed and read them a story. It was after the story I asked to see my eldest's tooth. I wobbled it and it was just hanging there. It got me remembering when I was a little girl and my dad used to do all kinds of unexpected things to pop our wobbly teeth out.

Anyway I was wiggling away, and my daughter was flinching a little so I stopped then I asked to look at it again and I wiggled it bit harder then I quickly tugged at it and it fell out onto her duvet. She was giggling and I was cheering. Daddy went wild too. There was a little bit of blood but that was sorted with a bit of a wash out with water. Such a big brave girl.

First day

Cheese! Won't you just look at that smile.

This morning was my little girl's, I mean, not so little girl's, first day at school and she loved it.

It's funny because for the weeks leading up to this day she would constantly grimace and storm off whenever the 'school' word was mentioned. I never took this behaviour on board because she is so used to mixing with other children and being away from her dad and I. Since she was 14 months old she has been spending 11 hour days at nursery. Admittedly for the past 15 months I have been a stay at home mum, so maybe she was feeling unsettled  with the impending changes ahead.

The thing is, I know my daughter is eager to learn. She is forever asking questions, she is thirsty for knowledge and she is keen to get on with reading and writing. I have taught her little bits here and there but with two other little ones to tend to it has been hard to dedicate myself to her properly. I know at school she will come on in leaps and bounds.

I must admit that in all the haste to get my eldest prepared for school I had completely lost sight of my middle child. She has always been the more self assured of my two girls, but in the last few days she has been a bit clingy and upset, making a fuss at bedtimes and waking up several times in the night. I couldn't work out why until now, but I think maybe in her own little way she sensed the changes about to happen. (She'll be starting pre-school in a few weeks, so it really is all go in this household.)

She cried her little eyes out when she realised her big sister was going to school today without her. She kept saying; 'Where's Lexi, I miss Lexi'. I felt a pang of guilt as I realised I hadn't properly explained that her big sister was starting school and what this would mean for her. OOOpps. You live and learn.

Nevertheless my big girl had a fabulous first 'day' and she was beaming when we went to pick her up at 11.30am. (The school are easing the children in gently, so it'll be half days to begin with). I can't quite believe that an era is over. My first born, who I feel like I only gave birth to yesterday is growing up so fast. I felt such a pang in my soul as I made my way home without her this morning. It felt odd because me entrusting her into the care of someone else is nothing new, like I mentioned she was at nursery for a good few years. I guess it's the fact that she is now in formal education that makes it feel different.  I know all will be fine though, this is simply another chapter of life that the good Lord will guide us through.

Off to school I go!

When I'm older

Source

My eldest who is four and a half said to her dad and I a few days ago;


'When I'm older I won't live with you and mummy any more will I?' 


Suddenly I had an awful ache in my heart and it really hit home.


I know it's obvious, but at that moment in time I had the realisation that by the grace of God my precious children are really going to grow up and leave home one day.  


Sometimes it's all too easy to get bogged down with the day to day chaos of being a parent and a stay at home mum, and lose sight of the fact that these days, no matter how difficult they can sometimes be, will not last forever. 


Time is whizzing by and there is so much I want to see and do with my children. There is so much I want them to see and do and experience on their own and with each other.


I feel so disorganised at times, because I have an array of activities I want them to get involved with. I must  get my head down and get things done.


After all, time waits for no man.