Last Monday J came home from school and we had a read through his homework for the week.  With them finishing on Wednesday for half term the list was shorter and Show and Tell was going to be on Wednesday instead of the usual Friday. This week the theme was, “Something that I love”. I said to J, “oh what are you going to take in for that?” He thought for a moment and said, “You Mummy, I need to take in you.”

Honestly I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he was completely serious.  I said, “Oh J that’s a lovely idea, but I don’t think you can take in me, what about something else?” But, no, he was adamant that he needed to take me in for Show and Tell. I decided to leave it and ask him again the next night what he was going to take, thinking that maybe when he had had a little chat with his friends about what they were going to take in, he might change his mind.

Tuesday night came and as we were getting ready for the next day, I said, “Right Jonah, what are you taking for Show and Tell?” and, yip, he was still for taking in me. We decided that the best way for that to happen would be for him to take in a photograph of me. So, he picked the one of me on our wedding day.

Now, I have to confess that I was a little nervous and worried for him.  I knew it was the sweetest, most loveliest thing ever, but there was a part of me was terrified that the other kids would make fun of him or something. But off he went on Wednesday, proud as punch.

When he came home from school that day, he got up onto my knee as he wanted a “warm, snuggly, cuddle” and I honestly thought that my heart might burst. I asked him how Show and Tell had gone and he said, “it went great mummy”. He didn’t seem embarrassed, no one had said anything to him about it. He was happy and I was too. I was more than happy, I was elated!!!!

My darling little J I love you to absolute pieces.  I love your innocence, your love, your matter of fact-ness (totally a word!!),  the way in which you see the world so simply…..I know one day this will most likely be taken from you.  There’s a day coming when you will no longer kiss me 5 times every morning as I leave you at the school gate, when you will no longer come running out those school gates at 2pm, for a hug, shouting “mummmmmyyyyy”, when you will no longer crawl into my bed every morning at 7am for a wee snuggle or hold my hand when we go for a walk or out to the shops.

But for now,  I am going to wallow in all of it.  Treasure each and every hug, and warm cuddle and snuggle.  I will cherish those moments when you’re proud to let people know that you love me.  I’ll not rush those morning goodbye kisses or force you to grow up too soon.

 This evening I find myself welling up as I write this as I know, before I know it,  you’ll be ‘too cool’ for all that mushy stuff. And not so long after that, there’ll be another girl in your life who you’ll be shouting your love about, she’ll be the one that you want to wake up to every morning and come home to every night. And by jove, she better be a good ‘un!

But for now my J.Bear you are MY boy and I love you lots and lots like jelly tots; loads and loads like frogs and toads. And I am so proud that I was the “something that you love” for Show and Tell.