HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY MY GORGEOUS BOY

My youngest child is twelve today. This makes me feel old. He’s growing up fast. Last night, for his party he wanted a “house” party, complete with music and privacy and pizza. “So what shall we get to put in the going home bags?” I asked him at the party shop whilst he’s busy snorting at a pair of boxer shorts you can buy with a willy hanging out at the front….basically I just got a withering look at the thought that they are still young enough for (correction) “party bags”. Just not an option anymore.

So. Result. No more party bags for me to stress over ever again.

Tick that box.

He had a great party. I hope.

Cupcakes made by my very talented friend:-

Mess made by me stupidly agreeing to a confetti pump:-

My 19 year old son and his girlfriend were here to help and apart from the last 15 minutes which couldn’t have gone more slowly if I’d unwound the clock it went very well (if you ignore hysterical girly screams coming from the garden for most of the evening). He had invited only friends from his “current” school. Soon to be “old” school. It was his leaving party as well and I’m not sure how he was feeling about all of that. He’s had a rough time over the last few terms – some of it of his doing, but not all. For a number of reasons, which I will have to go into another time, he is leaving. I partly blame myself for rushing him into the same school as his sister – they are not similar, so why should I assume that the same school would suit him too? I partly blame others, but I can’t go into that now.

what I noticed, as he opened his cards and presents with me this morning was how many of them said not only that they were going to miss him hugely but how funny and kind and lovely he is – and they’re right. When you hear those words from some of his close friends, nothing else matters – he might not be the most academic child in the world, but funny? Great. Kind? Even better.

He will go far with those qualities.

BTW – he got through to the second round of Junior Master Chef which was HUGELY exciting – had to be filmed describing the yellow thai curry he’d made for the judges to taste. He did such a good job that I was absolutely convinced he was going to get through to the programme itself. But he didn’t. Got the email last week. I think I was possibly more disappointed than him. Instead, he quite rightly pointed out that perhaps because he was starting a new school it would be better not to be on a cookery programme. So, he’s fine with it.