How do you let go a man you have spent half your life with? Because that’s what I have to do. Yes my son is now 18 (the age I was when I had him) and this year is planning to leave home to go to University. Do not kid yourself that September/October is not far away, as I know all too well how fast the last eighteen years have gone. I am incredibly proud of the man he has become, particularly given the difficult start in life. I am pleased to see that he has made some fantastic friends and is all that anyone could wish for in a (teenage) son. So a bit belated but here is some photos from his birthday.
For his eighteenth birthday we started with a special cooked breakfast – complete with sparkling sausage. His chair had so many helium balloons on it that it was like a scene from Up! We had hats, crackers and lots and lots of poppers. We printed off photos of him throughout his life and laminated them as placemats.
Of course there were presents and cards. I wanted to get him a watch and told him that he may appreciate it when he’s older looking back. His dad is the one that wants to make him smile though, and so he also got a white PS4. Not forgetting the chocolate smash cake filled with chocolates.
But the real birthday treat was a surprise. Thanks to his friends to help with months of planning, I had organised from him and his group of friends to go ice-skating at The Mall Cribbs Causeway. He had no idea. He took it really well when his friends said that they’d do something another time, and didn’t seem to even mind that I seemed to want him all to myself. There were 9 of them in the end but unfortunately they were only on the ice for about 5 minutes before one of the party was knocked over on the ice. She consequently fractured her arm and we had to take her home. The meal was cancelled and arranged for another time. But he was so happy, so pleased to see his friends.
Luckily I had paid for 10 skaters (one of the friends was unable to make it at the last-minute) and so had a POD booked. This meant that all the skate were there when we arrived (well one pair was missing so I swapped the spare pair for the right size) and a place we could sit near the ice. This meant that we just left the skates there when we were done. Unfortunately people just came in and used the POD and things were not safe so someone needed to stay with the belongings. The first aiders got to us quickly and were very good. The ice was accessible by wheelchair (manual) but it was not easy to get to the POD with a wheelchair through the crowds of people lining up to take their skates back. The accessibility team at Cribbs Causeway were also very helpful with all my queries and do hire out manual chairs for free.
My son has had offers from all 5 Universities and I wish him all the best for his exams. But I have to admit I am feeling sad at the thought of him leaving already. My husband and friend tell me not to worry, that he will soon be back. But there’s that fear isn’t there.
