A bride, a bus, a baby and a few bubbles.....
Well it’s a Monday Blogday! How spontaneous! How flexible!
How amazing that I was just too tired last night to blog! I’m sorry but not sorry. I mean it’s exhausting leading a full and social life! I had a HUGE weekend with all of the things mentioned in the title. A mini bus ferrying around a great group of women on a Hen’s Day Winery Tour of the Mornington Peninsula, with a beautiful baby to cuddle at each stop. I know, right! How amazing! The weekend was filled with with lots of laughter, a few fake penis straws, cocktails, bubbles, music and love. And a great group of women supporting each other and celebrating that gorgeous girl finding the love of her life. I may have sent my two daughters a few pictures and/or videos with the caption “Hen’s Day goals!”
What’s even more amazing is that the Bride-to-be was my tiny little flower girl almost 25 years ago! That realisation may have hit me like a tonne of bricks! That gorgeous little girl did such a great job on our wedding day that she fell asleep under the bridal table during the reception. I even lay down with her while she dropped off to sleep, as I had done many times over the years watching her grow up.
And did I mention her middle name is Cherie with a C? Yes…her middle name is Cherie with a C! Little bit proud of that…..
She was one of my first lot of babies I have mentioned in my earlier blogs. I have known her and her 4 sisters since they were born and still love them as my own. And now B is getting married. I may have shed a little tear over the weekend, not brought on by alcohol, but brought on by such pride and such gratitude to be sharing that day with her and her beautiful family.
From the time I was 10 years old, this family have opened their door and their arms to me. I must have driven their mum crazy….I just wanted to be over at their house constantly! My childhood was filled with bathing, feeding and playing with those little girls. My friends at school teased me about it, but I didn’t care. They were such a huge part of my life. And I learnt how to be a mother. By the time my own babies came along I’d had around 13 years of experience with babies, toddlers and small children! As I got older, I often picked them up from school or kinder, and even did a week of swimming lessons with one of them. That family taught me so much about who I am, who I wanted to be.
This weekend was no exception. I’ve watched these girls grow into adults, some of them have become wives and mothers and all the while their own mum teaches me how to grow and change as a mum. Is she a perfect mum? Probably not….no mum is perfect. We’ve all made mistakes, and will continue to make mistakes, but this very special mum (along with their equally amazing dad!) has raised 5 gorgeous girls who all love each other, support one another and who all have each other’s backs. They cry together, they laugh together. I’ll bet they even fight together. But they all love each other…..an amazing testament to their parents.
I’m pretty sure their mum knows what a huge role she has played in my life….she made me feel loved and valued when I didn’t always feel that, and she still does. But just in case she doesn’t know…thank you. Thank you for sharing your babies with me over the years, thank you for believing in me, for guiding me and for always making me feel special, and thank you for teaching me how to be the best mum I can be. You may not ever know just how much that has meant to me. I’m sure you didn’t set out to be a role model….but that’s what you have been to me, as well as one of my dearest friends.
Now it’s the count down until the wedding when waterproof mascara is a must! I know her parents will be so proud of their beautiful girl, as they are of all their girls, and I get to share a tiny bit of that pride. I love them, and I feel very loved by all of them. What more can one ask?!! Truely blessed.
Love,
Cherie with a C.
Xxx
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