Dear Grace, Now You Are Thirteen

Today is the day I have kind of been dreading for a while now. Grace, now you are thirteen. A teenager. The door is finally shut tight on you ever being my little girl ever again. I am sad and happy at the same time. Sad because I will never have those days ever again and happy because I am so looking forward to you becoming a woman.

I can just about remember when I turned 13. It was the first time I’d been allowed make-up and it was the year I got my ears pierced. We let you have yours pierced on your last birthday – a year earlier than we had said. Mobile phones and social media didn’t exist so I often find myself wondering what my parents had to worry about?!

Grace, you have always been so grown up. Sometimes that is to our detriment as we treat you so much older than you are. But, you have always been so mature about so many things.

Firstly, I have to apologise to you sincerely for the last year. It has been hectic – and that is an understatement. I haven’t known whether I am coming or going much of the time due to work. I sat at my desk pretty much every night over the past year and put you second far too many times. I am so sorry.

I have seen you look at me with sadness behind your eyes and an apology in your voice when you said that you understand because I had to work. It is no wonder then that you have come with me most Mondays to my evening Slimming World groups in Crewkerne. You have learned how to put things up and pack down as well as understand how pay works.

You were the lead in the school play and made an excellent Alice in Wonderland. A fantastic end to Year 7. Now, you are in Year 8 and doing fantastically. You are your class representative for . You won the Year 8 award for computing this term and you made Nana and Grandad a beautiful birdhouse for Christmas.

You are still learning piano and are gearing up for Grade 3. You are also keen to learn the guitar. You have a beautiful singing voice. You love music and art and have drawn some gorgeous pictures. You received a lot of art equipment for Christmas and I know that you are going to put it to good use.

In amongst all of this, you are still enjoying maths and science and continue to be interested in becoming a Biotechnologist.

We managed to attend two blogger events with Maven Connex this year – your very first two! We had a really lovely time together.

I know that life can be difficult and I see you struggle with your emotions. I can remember that I was the same. I try and support you through it and I promise you that I will be there more for you this year.

You remain thoughtful, polite and intelligent with a wonderful strain of wit to you. You are brilliant with your brother and understanding and sympathetic with me and dad. You see your father on a regular basis and sometimes feel the separation from your family unit. Yet, with all of this you appear balanced and strong. I wish I had been you at your age.

Now you are thirteen, the day has come where you will be allowed social media. Knowing what I do about it and the fact that it has been an annoying friend of mine for quite sometime now, this does concern me. But, you have always respected our wishes about not using it until you are the legal age to do so. You have never complained or sulked or gotten angry about not being on it whilst your friends are.

I am fully aware that you will be able to see what I have and will be posting. You have also agreed to give us your log ins and passwords. This is because, I believe, you understand our concerns and have similar ones yourself. I hope, in one years time, I can reflect well on all of this!

All it remains for me to say is that I will promise you a better year from me. You continue to make me proud.

I love you girly,

Mum xxx