My beautiful wee girl. I can still remember holding you when you where born -how little you were. Today you are tall and strong, in that wonder space between little kid and pre-teen. One moment you are rolling your eyes and being sassy, the next you are seeking cuddles and asking to sleep in our bed ("Just one last time, you are getting too old" we say but we all know that it wont be the last time and we are all okay with that)
You have a wonderful imagination, creating stories and characters and making me smile with how vivid they are. You still passionately believe in Sparkle the fairy, who started out as the tooth fairy but is now a bigger part of your colourful world. I hope you are not too cross when you find out it is me who writes the notes. It is just that it has given me so much joy sharing this magic with you, just like my Mum did with me.
You are cautious my girl, nervous about new things, especially anything physical. But as we have seen before, it will all come together in the end. There comes a moment when it just clicks for you - we saw this with walking and swimming and it will come with your bike, reading and writing too.
I love seeing your confidence grow, and the pride in your eyes when you succeed. I want to make sure that I help build that confidence and that you grow to have faith in yourself and your ability to tackle new things. I know you can do it, but you need to know it in your heart too.
So at seven, what do I know about you? Your best friend is Madison, although she is not in your class next year, she lives just down the round so I am sure you will stay close. You quite like Reuben and he is a very nice boy. Your favourite song is still "Hit the Dance Floor" otherwise known as "Cheap Thrills" by Sia. You love rainbow colours and unicorns. You play with your Sylvanian Families, Barbies and of course Lego!
You enjoying doing "crafting stuff" with me and your favourite holiday treat is when you get to attend Dabble Do (a crafting holiday programme.
You still get nervous with new things or when we are due to part (like at school or holiday programme drop off). Your BB's are your comfort, but now you hide them in your bag so that no one knows that they are there. You are learning to try to act brave, and it both breaks my heart and makes me proud when when I see you push back the tears and take a deep brief and push on.
Each night you still want stories, and for me to sing "I'm a Believer" by the Monkee's. You love it when I make you toys do the singing and best of all it I change the words and include you and your toys. This year we started "the imagining thing" as you call it, which is my attempt to teach you guided mediation. For now it is just a restful story I say to you while you stroking your face. I will try hard this year to be less rushed and make time for these special moments of closeness with you.
I love that when we drive to school, or anywhere really, you "call" Butterfly at home (the boss of the toys) and ask her how everyone is going and what they are going to do today. I (of course) am the voice of Butterfly and we have fun chatting about what is happening. I love those chats.
You bring me so much joy and I love all that you are. The past seven years have gone so fast and I want to make sure I don't rush through the next seven.
I love you so much Grace Mary Day Mclaren.
