It’s all about to change. This mum isn’t sure if she wants it to.
To my son,
You had your first school orientation session this morning, and in less than three months, you’ll be a primary school student. Of course, I’m looking forward to finally having the days to myself, after all this time. But I’m already tearing up as I imagine waving goodbye to you on that first day of school next year.
Our days of hanging out, just the two of us, are coming to an end. Our picnics by the lake, feeding the ducks, me trying to stop you from falling in the water. Sitting in coffee shops, me with my cappuccino, you with your toast, sneakily sticking your fingers in the Vegemite. Me pushing you on the swing in playgrounds, you always wanting to go higher.
So many times you've told me, "Mum, you're my best friend." I know I've only got about three months of that left. I know that you're going to have lots of friends next year, because you're such a happy, chatty, easygoing kid. I know that in a few years' time you'll cringe if I remind you that I was once your best friend. I fear that in about 10 years' time, you might not even want to hang out with me at all. I hope it never gets to that point.
I can't believe that all these beautiful memories I have of the past four and a half years, of us giggling and playing and inventing our own worlds, all of them will probably be forgotten by you. All I can do is show you photos and tell you stories about what we did. I just hope that it's helped prepare you to have those kind of relationships all your life - good friends, happy times.
I love the way you ask me questions all day, every day, as if I know the answers to everything. "How many cats are there in the world?" "Where was I before I was born?" "Why don't they make real magic wands?" I love it when I can tell you the answers. I love it when we look them up on the internet together, and I find out new things too. I never want you to lose that curiosity. I never want you to become cynical. I expect, at some point, you will think that you know it all and I know nothing. I hope it's just a phase.
