Sunday, May 24, 2009

6

I can't believe my daughter is six tomorrow. Six years since she flew out of me, into my arms, with fierceness and will and laughter.

I used to think I was doing fine, but for the last few years I've been troubled by the sense of my constant failure.

Difficult, she won't let there be ease, she fights it almost all the time. She makes things so hard.

Perhaps this will purge early, perhaps when she gets a little older, things will shift and she will allow herself, and us, and me, a little more peace.

Because I look at her in her tshirt and jeans, and her six year old body with it's long hair and shining blue eyes is the perfect miniature of adult female beauty. We have spa night and as she lounges on the bed I take in her rosy, peachy, creamy perfection in awe and say I'm just amazed by how gorgeous she is.

'Why?' she asks, a spark in her eye, 'did you think I was going to be really ugly?' and a demonic chuckle bubbles out of her, with such humour and self knowledge. 'Did you think I was going to be gross?'

Today at her birthday party her aunt nods at her on the bouncy castle and asks if she's got a boyfriend - and I look up and there she is, wrapped around her best friend, head in his neck, a mini teen already.

It's bizarre. Six years of sharing our lives with this girl who makes putting her socks on into a trial akin to climbing Everest, but who also asks the most incisive questions, makes the most incredible art, laughs with the appreciation and comprehension of adult and when she wants to can be perfectly polite and sweet and selfless. I am terrified by the weight of responsibility my role holds, but also mostly, spectacularly proud.

And here, is a far more moving hymn to a daughter than this one. Beautiful.

7 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

Thank-you. And happy birthday to your girl. I'll tell you something that a very wise woman said to me once when my May was about six and being just...crazy. She said, "They're all premenstrual. No matter how young they are, the girls are all premenstrual."
And this woman had about forty years experience in child care and had several daughters and I don't know how many PhD's.
It's true.
Hug her up and love her fiercely. No matter what she says.
Do it.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday O-livia!!!

And BTW your post is moving too...

mammydiaries said...

Happy Birthday! It's mad how the time flies. We're still at the start with our small one, but they amaze you from day one...

Martin said...

Mrs Moons post was lovely.

So is this.

Ye are going to have so many battles as she grows, purely because I think ye are so alike.

And when then battles are done and she looks for comfort, it'll be you she comes to.

Nicola O'Byrne said...

Happy Birthday to your gorgeous daughter ! My oldest turns 12 tomorrow..

laughykate said...

What a lovely post, Jo.

PĂ©itseoga said...

love your writing! it's so exciting having a daughter... and in a way so much more challenging (i imagine!)