I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that from today BOTH of my children have “teen” added to their ages. I’m not sure how that happened. It seems like just yesterday we were teething and toilet training.

I know I never qualified as a “yummy mummy” but I did wear the title “mother of young family” for a while. Now it seems even that is gone. It’s been years since I got to park in the “parents with prams” zones, I haven’t walked down the supermarket aisle of baby food and nappies for eons, I don’t know the names of all the Play School presenters anymore. Now we’ve ticked “primary school” off the “done” list as well. It seems time is a-passing at a rate of speed outside of my comfort zone.

Today the Princess Child is 13.

Somehow, Princess, we have survived a high risk pregnancy, a premature birth, sleep deprivation that rivaled the torture handed out at Guantanamo Bay (dear lord child, how could you give up day sleeps at two months of age and NEVER sleep through the night). We’ve got through kindy and primary school and now we are embarking on that thrilling journey called high school.

This last year was a time when the stars aligned for you and all your hard work paid off. Your best report card ever. Acing some of those projects. Lots of laughter and fun with your friends. Many challenges overcome.

Just so you know, we are so proud of you. Your focus, your organisation (quite a challenge when you were born into such a house of chaos), your kindness, devotion to family and sense of humour are some of the qualities that make you so special to us.

I know that 2013 is going to be a fantastic year for you too, with new adventures and even more fun. It’s a joy to watch you grow up and achieve your goals.

While you get braver and even more independent, I’ll stand in the wings cheering you on, and trying to forget that every year older you get is another year into middle-age for me!