An open letter to my daughter on her fifth birthday
Following on the tradition, this is an open letter to my daughter, Elsie, on your fifth birthday.
I can’t believe we have had five whole years of you – where has that time gone?
This time last year I shared my open letter on your fourth birthday.
What are you like right now?
Both mammy and daddy feel like we have seen such a difference in you in the last few weeks.
You are still fiercely independent and much like your mammy, you’re very much a chatterbox.
Your confidence to chat with people you don’t know that well is still growing bit by bit.
That independent streak is as strong as ever within you – you’re definitely strong willed and know your own mind.
You are extremely caring – you offer hugs when people feel sad and you are very good at sharing.
From the day you were born you have been such a daddy’s girl but in the last few months you have been giving me more special attention which has been so amazing!
What do you love right now?
You absolutely love Octonauts whether watching it on the TV or listening to your Tonie box – Octonauts is your favourite show.
Being helpful is something you are really good at and you help me with the dishes and laundry and daddy with the gardening and hoovering.
Cooking spaghetti Bolognese on a Sunday afternoon for tea while dancing to music in the kitchen is something we love to do together.
Stick Season by Noah Kahan is your favourite song at the minute and singing along to this with you in the car or at home fills my heart with so much joy.
Drawing and colouring can keep you busy for ages whether at home or at your childminder’s.
We love displaying your beautiful pictures in the kitchen.
You still love to play outside and hopefully the weather brightens up more so we can go to the park and out in the garden more.
Going for walks with your babies in the pram or riding on your scooter is something we try to do at weekends and you and daddy find a secret path near home which you let me explore with you too.
Ice lollies are still one of your favourite desserts but you are enjoying ice cream more now too.
You are still a snackaholic fruit and sweets being your favourite and you’ve crowned me the Queen of Snacks as I make the best snacks apparently!
You’ve always been a big animal fan and we had a playdate in May with Rosie and Euan at Nothumberland Zoo which you really enjoyed.
Milestones this past year
It’s been quite a year little one.
On September 1 2023 you had your last day at nursery, and yes mammy cried.
You had a wonderful graduation ceremony dressed in your purple cap and gown and it was so emotional and wonderful.
After a few days off, you started your biggest chapter yet, your first day at reception.
To mark this occasion I wrote you a special open letter for your first day of school.
You really enjoy going to school, learning, creating things out of recycling, painting, drawing, reading and playing.
Your handwriting is getting better and better every day and your confidence in phonics is also continually growing.
You’ve had two stars of the week so far at school and you absolutely adore your teacher and teacher assistants.
Every night before bed you read to us and then we read a story together, one of your favourites at the moment is Poo in the Zoo.
Another big change for you this year was going to a childminder after school and walking home every night!
We had quite a few stay and play sessions to help you settle in but you have taken to going to a childminder so incredibly well.
You love going to her house after school and are very helpful at tidying up their too.
My hopes for this year
I hope you enjoy your last few weeks at school before the summer holidays and then back to school for Year 1.
I’m hoping that you settle into Year 1 and if you have a new teacher that you like them even half as much as you love your current teacher!
I hope you are happy and healthy and continue to challenge yourself.
You are just an absolute joy and you really light up our lives and we know we are so incredibly lucky to be your parents.
You are so loved little girl.
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