Dear Alice

I can’t believe on Monday the 20th you will be 7! It seems especially surreal to me because 7 is the first birthday that I can properly remember!

Growing Up Fast

I guess all parents say it every year, but it really does feel like this year you’ve grown up a lot this past year.

Back in the autumn, not long after you’d turned 6, we got our first real experience of your new found attitude. It was terrifying! You were in a constant strop, stamping around the house and slamming doors. It was a real insight into what we might have to deal with when you’re a teenager and I’m grateful we’re not at that stage yet. The moods became so frequent that I eventually went to speak to your teacher. There were no issues, but we both agreed that you were taking the work in your new year very seriously and then lashing out at us when you were at home in the evenings and at weekends.

A Worrier

It’s a common theme with you Alice. I can remember having the same discussion with your first teacher in Reception and the same outcome. You put so much effort into your school work,  which I guess is good thing, but it does make me worry more about you! You’re often exhausted by the time you get to bed after concentrating so much during the day. I’ve tried to tell you to lighten up, after all 6 is no age to be worrying and being serious. But it’s no good, because just like me, you’re a natural worrier.

The difference is, if something bothers me, I have to talk about it, everyone knows what’s going on with me! But you keep very quiet. I can press you and press you, but you won’t let on. Your silence makes me worry even more! I often find myself wondering what you’re thinking about or what’s going on inside your head. I hope in time that this changes and that you let me in. I can’t bear the thought of you becoming a teenager and me having no idea about what’s going on in your world!

Getting Aware

It’s been interesting lately to see you becoming more aware of things going on around you. You question me about stuff going on in the news. Just this week I was shocked to hear you talking in slang and I asked you where you picked it up from. I can see that you’re at an age where you’re interested about the world and wanting to keep up, and yet you’re still enjoying the wonders of being a little girl. You’re starting to become self conscious, but not letting it bother you too much. Just last weekend you told me “I can’t go in the paddling pool without my costume because I don’t want people to see me naked.” And yet on our holiday 3 weeks ago, you had no qualms about jumping in the pool naked with all the other kids!

There’s been some wonderful moments this year, when you were 6; Turning 7 will have a lot to live up to!

6 was the year you lost both your top teeth but 5 months later, we’re still waiting for the “grown up” teeth to appear.

6 was the year you were chosen to be a narrator in the Christmas and springtime school plays. You worried about it and nervously practised all of your many lines, but being 6 has definitely been the year that you’ve smashed it in terms of confidently performing to the rest of the school and parents!

6 was the year you discovered a new love of computer coding at school and have been wanting to code all the time. We even ended up buying you a coding programme robot for your birthday!

6 was the year you moved up a swimming class and suddenly became much more confident in the water; swimming underwater the whole time on holiday.

After a day out recently in Portugal to an elaborate splash park and another day out to Legoland, 6 has definitely been the year that you’ve developed a love of fast rides and rollercoasters. I’m still getting to grips with this one!

6 was the year that you saw your first concert – Little Mix, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to tell you that it was only the tribute act!

Happy 7th Birthday my lovely Alice. I’m looking forward to seeing what this year brings for you. I’m excited to seeing what you’ll achieve and the memories we’ll make when you’re 7! xxx