Letter to my daughter

Dear Amélie,

Today was your first day of class at university. How did that happen? I sometimes still picture you as the sweet little blonde girl that I dropped off at kindergarten all those years ago. I cried that day as soon as I turned the corner. I cried a little too when I said good-bye to you in your dorm room. That was harder than dropping you off at kindergarten. On the drive home your brother, your dad and I were pretty quiet. I'm sure we were all thinking about how much we're going to miss having you around the house. I kept thinking about all the things that I might have forgotten to tell you over the years. Are you ready for this? Am I ready for this? I guess we'll find out.

In the weeks when you had to decide which university offer you were going to accept I kept wavering between hoping you would choose the one that is only a 15 minute bus ride from home and then hoping that you would choose the one that is a 2 hour drive away. I wanted to keep you close to me at the same time that I wanted you to choose the more adventurous option. To no one's great surprise you chose to be adventurous. As much as I miss making you a cup of tea every night and lying on your bed so you can tell me all about whatever amazing thing some YouTuber posted, I now have to content myself with stalking you on Facebook to see the photos of you with your new friends. I'm living vicariously through you and wish that I had had the same kind of experience that you're having...well, maybe minus the rolling around in the mud and having people throw shaving cream at me, I don't think I would have liked that part.

So maybe I didn't tell you everything you needed to know before leaving, but hopefully I taught you the important things. One thing I didn't need to teach you was to be kind, because you are and always have been such a kind person. Don't ever let life change that about you. 

One thing's for sure I'm not worried about you, I know you'll be fine. You'll be more than fine, you'll be great. And keep posting those pictures on Facebook so I can see your beautiful, smiling face. Oh and work hard, don't forget that you're at university to get an education too, not just to have people throw shaving cream at you. 

Love, 

Your mom  

Spreading their wings

This past weekend was an emotional one. Saturday morning, bright and early, our son Tristan left for the Yukon. He will be gone for three months to work at the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse. Three months is a long time to be separated from your child, even when he happens to be a 6'1 nineteen year-old. 

This is the second summer that he leaves home to go North. I knew that he had had a wonderful experience last summer but it still surprised me a little when he announced that he had intentions of leaving again this year. Not only does he enjoy working with the kids as a summer camp counsellor but he also gets to spend time with his family members who live in Whitehorse. It really is a fantastic experience for a young man and I'm happy for him, but still, I do miss him (and not only because he's our resident techie and mower of lawns).

Before he left he helped his dad finish building the pergola. I've included a few pictures of the work in progress. The structure itself is done and I must say that I'm very proud of my men, it looks fantastic! Now we wait for the canvas cover to come back from the shop. 

Tristan, helping out his dad.

Here is the pergola without its canvas cover. (Daisy really wanted to be in the picture, she kept staring at me, waiting for me to take it.)

The same day that Tristan left was also my daughter Amélie's last dance recital with the dance studio she had been attending since the age of six. That's 11 years of memories and it was a very difficult thing for her to say goodbye to that part of her life. She has chosen to attend university away from home in September and so it is natural that she is mourning the things she has to leave behind. Still, she is a very tough cookie, so when she walked towards us sobbing after leaving the stage for the last time it was heartbreaking for her family to watch. Why oh why do children have to grow up so fast?

Watching Amélie dance so beautifully and confidently I kept hearing the lyrics to a song she introduced me to the other day, by Little Mix. The lyrics go something like this: 
"Mama told me not to waste my life, she said spread your wings my little butterfly". 

And that's exactly what my butterflies are doing.