When it hits it hits you hard...

Burst into tears in Colour Supplies today. Had no idea it was coming, took me totally by surprise and was suitably embarrassed and thanked god nobody was around to see, though I suspect the man on the paint counter was slightly terrified there was a crazy crying lady in the store. Not done that for ..ooohhh....ages. It was a little pink bike, lined up next to all the other big bikes. It was glittery and it had those ribbon tassles dangling from the handles. It was the kind of bike Elin would most definitely be learning to ride on and for the split second I clapped eyes on the bike the image popped into my head of her on it, bunches flying in the wind. Hence the spontaneous tears. Christ this is tough sometimes.

Elin has started school!

What a terribly long break from my blog! I wish I had the time to update more regularly, but sadly just lately it would appear that Elin has given up sleep for Lent, and thus evenings are spent staring mindlessly at the television or sleeping! Well, what has been happening in the world of Elin since I last blogged? Mainly ..she has started school!!! And we are so proud our hearts could burst. Not being of 'proper' school age yet she currently goes just two mornings a week. For the first 2/3 weeks I was lucky enough to accompany her to school, to help her settle. Of course it's more likely that I merely cramped Elin's style in front of her new friends and it was in fact me who needed to settle! Anyway, settle she did. What a thoroughly awesome place her SEN school is. Fantastic resources and a staff who talk of the children as though they are family. It blew my mind that we have access to a place that can cater so brilliantly for Elin's very specialist needs. Never mind how cute she looks in her school uniform of course! I had no reservations about her going to school, but I must admit the first time she went by a taxi minibus on her own (not totally of course, she has great carers on the bus but I mean without me) I did burst into tears at work!! It suddenly struck me, as these things occasionally do, that she might not know where she was, having nothing familiar to her surrounding her, and the thought of this broke my heart. Of course I needn't have worried. Elins home school diary read that she had smiled all morning and 'could not have had a better first day at school'. My pride was as fierce as it was overwhelming. A huge milestone which once upon a time, in the dark dark days at the special care baby unit , we weren't sure she would reach. Elin has had many adventures at school already and we are lucky enough to receive photos home of her enjoying many activities which I put in a scrapbook. I am sure my blog posts will include lots of school news in the future now. Where would parents like me be without places like this school? Places we can have absolute trust in to not only care for her but also to educate her (in her own special way) and help her develop to the best of her ability? There is a lot wrong with this country's governments priorities but as far as provision like this for Elin goes it makes me think Britain truly can be a Great occasionally :-)