Waaaaay back in July the daunting prospect of entertaining, feeding, motivating, reasoning, refereeing and CONSTANTLY tidying up began…yup, once again it was “THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS”.

Week One began full of anticipation of spending quality time with my daughter – this was not to be. I am not a horse, therefore I have very little appeal to my daughter. Day one began idyllically as she headed off on her favourite activity…involving…horses. Day one also included an eventful air ambulance and a trip to Ninewells – another joy of horse riding. Thankfully my sproglet was not injured, only witnessed the fall of another not so lucky rider.  Here’s hoping week two is a little less eventful.

Week two went by fairly calmly if I remember.  I spent most of my time juggling work and chauffeuring the jodhpur legged one, to various locations…different day…different dirt track.  Returning several hours later to collect the muddier, hungrier version than I dropped off.

Week three – the midway point – hump week…wakening to the mantra “Hang in there…you can do this…after this week, there are less weeks to go then we’ve had…stay strong”.  In between driving on the dirt tracks and washing the jodhpurs, that little mind monkey reared its head…whispering loudly -” It’s time to be buying the new school uniform…don’t leave it to the last minute…you’ll regret it…DO IT NOW…good mums will have done it already…you are a failure to motherhood…” I asked the preteen what she would be requiring, but only got a shrug and a grunt…If I had suggested a visit to Jack Wills, I might have got a better reaction than my choice of Asda or Matalan! Silly me!

Week four – I don’t remember a great deal about week four – I had toothache.  Never have I swallowed so many painkillers and tried to keep functioning, hoping that if I didn’t acknowledge it, it wasn’t actually happening. Delighted to say the codeine addiction is now under control and the tooth (which has already had root canal treatment followed by a crown) has survived. Who knew that teeth that have gone through all that can STILL fester into pain that is comparable to child birth without the epidural OR maternity leave? Thank you codeine for being there for me in my time of need.

Week five – no time for complacency, DO NOT let down your guard!  This is the week you reach out to other mothers and join forces…you form teams and find safety in numbers – Let the sleep overs commence!  If you look after someone else’s child, a beautiful thing happens – THEY LOOK AFTER YOURS!!!  Just when your purse and fuel tank are almost as empty as each other – a guardian angel offers to temporarily home your child. **High Five** The word sleepover used to fill me with dread – sleepless nights, homesick children, peanut allergy fears, dying slightly inside when child X tells you they can’t sleep unless the bedroom is 17 degrees and her bed is facing the moon. But this year was different…they came, they stayed, they fed themselves, washed beds themselves and remained reclusive in the confines of the bedroom 90% of the time (when they weren’t out riding). Maybe preteens aren’t so bad after all? (Remember the week 5 warning – do not become complacent!)

Week six – The uniform is ordered and the chauffeur is more than willing to drive anywhere now, because she treated herself to a lovely new car. Much to the disapproval of the preteen who cannot see the need for a new car when she does not have a new horse, but full approval of the fact that the new car talks to her iPhone (which coincidently was dropped in one of the many horse fields and needed its own air ambulance to the iPhone repair shop to repair it – another unexpected financial hit for mum’s purse with the promise of “I’ll pay you back”).

So, Impressive Mummies…what does Wednesday mean for you?

• Relieved to wave them off back to wonderful school life?
• Looking forward to a moment of peace and not hearing “MUUUUM” repeatedly?
• Have you started threatening that bedtime will be becoming earlier yet?
• Will the car drive itself to soft play automatically, as it’s become your second home?
• Does the prospect of going food shopping alone actually sound quite appealing?

Waaaaahhh…The moment feared by many! The BIG day arrives – STARTING SCHOOL!

You feel excited and proud that they are growing up, but sad to watch them becoming more independent and not needing us so much.  Realising how precious those first few years are and wanting them to slow down!!

• Will your little person be skipping off down the school path, beginning their journey into education?
• Have you been reminiscing and wondering where the heck the last 4 years have gone to?
• Have you ironed name labels onto every piece of fabric? (Did you see the hack to use your hair straighteners instead of the iron? I’d rather break the iron than my GHD’s…)

Are you lying awake at 3am overthinking?

• What if he doesn’t make friends?
• What if she gets bullied?
• What if they can’t manage the work?
• What if they cry when I go?

Be impressively proud that you have created independent little sponges who are ready to soak up all the new learning and experiences that school will bring them.  Capture this milestone, remember with satisfaction that YOU created this fabulous little human who is now stepping up, and stepping out into their journey.  What better reward could you ask for than knowing you helped them begin their expedition?

Mums know how hard it is to let go of that little hand, and teachers do too. That little hand that you’ve nurtured and watch grow. You held it tight and kept them safe, and now it’s time to let it go…just a tiny bit…

So DO NOT WORRY about them, because they will be absolutely, perfectly happy…they will have a coat hook AND a tray…with THEIR name on it.  Your little sponge will be safe, cared for, looked after, guided, nurtured and ready to flourish – Why? Because YOU gave them everything they needed – go you!!

Starting school is one of life’s very Impressive Memories.

Letting go of that little hand at the school gate. Trusting your most precious possession to skip off along the path, on their new adventure.

That little hand that you’ve held so tightly, has grown, and keeps on growing. Where do the years go??? Your Impressive little person has reached ANOTHER milestone – time to capture the moment.

Keep them close to you forever.

Wearing it wherever you go, showing the world how precious this little person is to you.  It makes a bespoke keepsake while capturing a unique memory of those Impressive Memories in your life.  Capture yours today.

Make an impressive memory of that little hand on a beautiful ceramic mug. Treasure the moment and remember how much this little hand has grown, and how much more growing it has ahead of it! A great way to remember this milestone moment.

**SPECIAL OFFER**

All new primary one pupils can come and make a handprint mug for just £9. Monday – Friday between 1-3pm until August 23rd, 2016.

Message me, comment or call to find out more…why not make one for an Impressive Granny too?