“Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past,
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts.”
Karen Kingsbury

These are thought provoking words. I was not present at The Witchling’s births and I missed their first smiles, baby steps and first teeth. As an adoptive mother I am keenly aware of how important it is to treasure each moment with The Witchlings. I was honoured to be present at Witchling 10’s first day of nursery and then school. I made costumes for their first fancy dress parties and walked them to their first school discos. The firsts may be fewer and farther between now but they are no less important to me or The Witchlings. The first day at Secondary School, the first pair of earrings, the first length swum across the pool without armbands. These are all precious moments that I will cherish forever. In a busy, stressful, hectic life it is easy for mums to get lost in impatience, constantly waiting for the next hurdle to be crossed. I’ve often heard mums and dads exclaiming ‘I can’t wait until he’s out of nappies!’ ‘I can’t wait until she starts school!’ But the thing is, once that little boy is out of nappies he becomes a little older and a little more independent. Once that little girl is at school there will be no more morning wanders round the park to feed the ducks in spring.

Don’t wish your little people’s life away. Enjoy each moment and each phase as it happens and let each one linger as long as possible. When, one day, The Witchlings are all grown up and have Witchlings of their own, I will still have these cherished moments and I will be glad that I was not is any rush to pass them by.