Maddy is 12.

I planned Bens birth, well, his virtual birth, as carefully as I could so as not to affect Maddy’s birthday but Ben had his own ideas and so we were home and back. Luckily I had done lots of early buying, but things didn’t arrive on tie or were wrong. It all felt like, as usual, Maddy got a raw deal although she was beautifully gracious about it. Luckily, right at the last moment, her main present arrived, which I blew the budget on totally as I knew she would just love it. And she did. Lego Technic is made for the ‘addys’ of the family. Maddy and daddy had 2 days of total delight.

The super car thrilled them both, with endless discussions of gears and suspensions and differentials and plans for future projects. Not even doctor who Lego, or the tkd hoodie or the other bits and bobs she got could come close.

Maddy is a huge smurf fan so Josie went to great pains to smurf-ise her cake and lay the table nicely to make it special.

Maddy, I cannot believe you are 12. You are so big now, teetering on the edge of young woman, thoughtful, creative, gentle and kind. You are so uniquely yourself in this family and if I could wish anything for you in this last year before you become a teen, it is that you’ll have the courage to believe in yourself and take credit and delight in yourself and your skills and the wonderful, essential part of this family that you are.

We love you.