They are the millenium babies, born at the turn of the turn of the century, into a world moving at a pace never seen before.

Yesterday the babies graduated from Primary School.

Our days of reading groups, dioramas, art displays made from toilet roll holders and helping out at excursions have wrapped up.

We sat in our local church and watched the children accept their graduation certificates, the girls looked beautiful, the boys scrubbed up nicely.

The Princess Child wore daisies in her hair, and sparkly shoes on her feet (yes I won the battle, it could be my last victory, let me enjoy my moment).  At one point it became clear Mr Shambles hadn’t read the memo that daisies were the preferred floral decoration. With no actual daisies available I was offered chrysanthemum daisies or easter daisies. I went with the chrysanthemum daisy. Sitting in the church Mr Shambles remarked “the chrysanthemum’s look nice”, “they are daisies”, “they look like chrysanthemums”, “they are chrysanthemum DAISIES”, “right OK the daisies look lovely”.

The children presented us with letters they had written to thank us for being their parents.

I cried, but then we all knew I would.

 

There was dinner and dancing. The children had spent weeks practicing. Forced to put down the techno gizmos and gadgets they were transported to a more sedate time, learning the barn dance, strip the willow, the polka and other such old-fashioned malarkey. They were great – and very adept at person-to-person dancing without actually touching your partner! When parents were added to the mix, well let’s just say the standard dropped considerably.

The children were presented with a time capsule of their work over the years. Pictures and stories which grew as they did, from stick figures and incomplete sentences to colourful still life art work and intricately woven narratives.

In a specially prepared video, we watched our babies faces morph from kindergarten to year 6. The growth from child to tween, the women and men they will be beginning to peek through. The sporting carnivals, the school camps, the talent shows,   the class activities, the day-to-day life of busy learning.

As I hugged the Princess Child last night I was grateful for many things. Grateful for my loving child, who worked so hard this year. Grateful for the chance to see her grow up.