A Letter For A Coming of Age

 I can hardly believe my tiny baby girl who spent the first three weeks of her life in dolls' clothes is already coming of age!

• 2/7/5 5lb 8oz all in a rush to arrive. I carried you sideways in the papoose all pinned up and padded with a towel. I still have the scar where you would reach for my chest and I will never forget that first Moot when Yak held you so I could nip to the loo. When I got back you were clutching his Thor's hammer in one hand and wrapped yourself into his beard, tickling it against your nose that way you always did.
  
  I will never forget Uncle Simon telling me about Uncle Gary and his first walk in the park with you. How that evil lady said that for a child to have two godfathers was wrong and how he'd glanced down at you in your pram and you flashed him the first smile you ever gave him and he knew he would be a great godfather. You raised his confidence so much he even held you all through your naming ceremony.
  
  I will never forget how you and Loki could never be parted and how she would insist on being got up in mornings too, though for afternoon naps she was well able to come and tell me you were awake. To this day she still calls 'Mama' in that funny half spoken, half mewed way you both used to.
  
  I'll never forget watching you in the bath with Grandpa and comparing against baby photos with Grandma. I'm sorry darling girl, it seems you're cursed to look the spit of me.
  
  I'll never forget how Farah, having watched you cruise round the sofa and let you stand and lean on her, little fists gripping tight for dear life, walked you out into the middle of the kitchen floor and barred the doorway so Grandma and I couldn't get to you. She sat and watched you wobble for a moment, then gave you a low, soft woof and kept it up until you walked to her on your own for the very first time. After all the excitement died down the two of you went and curled up together and fell asleep.
  
  I'll never forget when Jack decided to give you your first taste of chocolate icecream - the first wearing of your new sleepsuit when you hadn't even grown into the toes yet.
  
  I'll never forget teaching you to count and how gleefully you would say "SIX" when we got to that page.

Not many kids could do that consistently at your age. A lot of the 'experts' thought you couldn't, but you always proved them wrong, my clever little girl. I hope that to this day you still always have a book with you, no matter what.

I remember listening to everyone's wishes for you at your naming day and hearing the ones read for folks who couldn't be there and wondering what today would be like - seeing you start to take your first steps as a young woman, not quite maiden, nor yet full woman, but starting to feel for your footing.

I wrote the wishes out for you and put them in the bag so you will have them when you string your beads tonight. They were:

* The seed pearl is from me. So you never forget you are beautiful and strong, and can agitate if necessary.

* The acorn was carved for you by Nigel. He wanted you to always appreciate forested spaces and always have forest to appreciate.

* Ferret carved the wooden one for you. He wanted you always to trust your instincts and follow your own path.

* The striped yellow and orange one came from Patrick. He wanted you to enjoy the sun as much as druids do.

* Cheryl, your antenatal midwife chose green. She wanted you to develop a calm and tranquil nature, and to be a good sleeper. Elizabeth and sister Chang at the hospital, who delivered you, chose at the same time. Elizabeth gave you the blue. She wanted you to always be and know beautiful, but with wisdom to get past the superficial. Sister Chang chose red in honour of your feistiness. She was taken with so much spirit in one so small and her wish was that you always hold onto that fight and tenacity.

* The moonstone was held and blessed by everyone at the Moot for your naming celebration. Some focused on the woman they'd like you to become, some whispered secret things as they held it and some said little prayers for you.

You can also start to wear your pendant from tonight. Your other mum will no doubt have talked to you about how to take a little note of the moon and why it's important to your health to do that.

Darling girl, I am SO proud of you! Even though we are far apart, you children are always in my thoughts and my heart. Right now, four years until you're 16 and can get in touch if you choose to seems like such a long time away, but look at how fast we got to here. I can't wait for the year you get to eat some of your birthday cake.

Your cake this year is lemon, under chocolate buttercream. Sometimes it's going to get tangy and sharp out there, but if there's any justice in this world, though cursed to look like me, perhaps at least you'll also have inherited my odd blessing of something really sweet and lucky always following tight behind anything rough.

Just as at your naming then, and since we don't know which patron you will choose for yourself at whatever ceremony your new folks give you, we will also rededicate you to Edana. She was the perfect choice for you from infancy, being the patron for firey, spirited women. Your double 'n' is special only to you and is a memory that you are not only named for your patron, but also for Great Grandma and all the other strong, amazing women you descend from.

Step out on your journey towards adulthood, no longer my tiny baby, but a brave, beautiful, clever young woman and know that we will always love you and be here for you. Mum xxx