Thirteen!!
All those years ago when it was just my farmer boy and me, and we would talk about making babies, we never ever thought about making teenagers. Never! We planned for chubby little cherubs that we would dress in cute tie dyed onsies and wrap in woolly blankets. We never ever chatted about kids who would buy their own clothes, and have their own styles.
And yet here she is, thirteen years later, filled to the brim with her own styles and opinions and ways. Almost as tall as me. Desperate for more independence and at the very same time for big strong boundaries.
She's a joy!
She's going to challenge me.
I adore her.
I feel incredibly proud of her.
I now pronounce the next stage of parenting open!!
Happy birthday Ind.
xx
Happy birthday, Indi. What lovely photos of you, I think my favourite is the very top one.
ReplyDeleteOh lovely Indi, happy birthday. I hope it's filled with friends and laughter. Kate, I'm hoping you have all the parenting a teenager worked out by the time I get there. Xx
ReplyDeleteWow - how did that happen? Wishing Indi a very very happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you all!! xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday Indi may your teenage years be filled with laughter, knowledge, inspiration and thirst. Best wishes Kate and Farmer Bren as a mum of 4 with 3 already being teenagers it is challenging, thought provoking, a little bewildering at times but brace yourselves and love the ride! My advise for parenting teenagers is not try and understand them just try and guide them.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous post Kate, happy birthday Indi. I don't think any of expect to have teenagers, but inevitably is just happens! I hope all is good in your part of the world x
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty. Jo x
ReplyDeleteAww it's a big step isn't it? Going from mama to a kid... to mama to a teenager. At least it felt that way to me :) Happiest birthday to her! :)
ReplyDeleteMy boy turned 13 in April. To him it was no big deal, didn't even want a cake!! To me it was huuuuuuuge! It still is. I look at him in wonder & think " when did this happen?".
ReplyDeleteIt just goes so fast doesn't it Kate?
She's so lovely! Makes my head reel when I think that one day I'll have three teenagers in the house. Hopefully they won't be as horrible as I was! xK
ReplyDeleteI rarely comment on your blog, although I frequently read it - but I must say that you have lovely daughters! And I do believe that Miss Indy will be a very special and fantastic woman. Congratulations to her! ..and to her parents, of course. (My own daugher turned 30 and is now a Ph.D. in organic Chemistry - how odd is that?! When did that happen??)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Indi! We seem to be doing to opposite, j can't focus on the fact that first we'll have babies and he keeps jumping to the teenage years. It looks, from the snippets that we get, that you guys have done some fabulous raising of your children! Would love all your tips!
ReplyDeleteYou're three days ahead of me on 'being the mother of a teenage daughter' but as I'm a bit of a titch I've been looking up to mine for about six months. I often find myself looking up to her in other ways too. But how can she be so completely sussed one minute and a typical teenager the next? Let me know how you get on with the whole independence / boundaries thing... that's my biggie right now.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Indi and enjoy that next stage Kate. With Ayden turning 20 next week and Callum not 13 until March I am going to enjoy a few months without a teenager. Honestly though, I find my kids such great company as they get older and have so much to both tell and teach me
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Indy , I also have a Indy who is 13. xx
ReplyDeleteHappy 13 Indi!! What a beautiful girl she is.
ReplyDelete...the next stage of parenting eeeek, hang on tight! x
Happy Birthday to your beautiful young lady.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
I can't imagine my four month old being a teenager. I can imagine her as a toddler, yes, in gumboots, clomping around a garden I don't yet have. But a teenager. Yikes! I hope she had a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful. Happy Birthday Indi! She sure looks amazing with that beautiful jlly smile. Smile often and life will be easier to deal with - even as a teenager. That is my advice to her.
ReplyDeleteMy Nelly Bo just turned 12. That was big too. I felt everything you've said above and next year it will probably be even stronger feelings... It is an intense time with lots of roller coaster emotions. I try to communicate as much as I can. Listen. And understand without questioning. It is difficult as she is the number one and this is all new to me. To us all. Even for her, of course. So we take it step by step. My husband embraces it and think it is beautiful to see her becoming a young woman soon... Me... Hmmm... For me she is still my little girl and I am almost scared of this stage in her life.
Not long ago Nelly Bo told me, in tears one night, that she was worried about growing older. That she is afraid to loose the naivety and fun of being a child. That next summer the trip to the summer house might not be as magical as at been before, because that is what "they" say. The magic disappears when you grow up. Some of the girls in school are already into swopping boyfriends every week, wearing make up and mini skirts. Hanging around in small groups looking cool instead of playing around. It scares her as she still wants to climb trees, be silly and laugh out loud without having to think about what others think of her. I thought this was very mature of her. To acknowledge all this and share it with me. I told her there is no rush to grow up. She can stay a child as long as she wants to, and just add on some parts of responsibility, experience an knowledge on the way. She sighed deeply and bursted out in a "Oh thank you Mama! I've been so worried about becoming a teenager. Now it feels so much better." Like my husband said, lets embrace this stage. They are beautiful our dear daughters.
xxx
Annette
My Rose Valley
What a gorgeous young lady - you SHOULD be so proud!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girl, beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your beautiful daughter x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful daughter! Happy Birthday Indi!
ReplyDeleteShe looks like a mature young lady already and definitely one to be proud of too! Happy birthday to her x
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures in the flower field. And I notice she is still wearing tie-dye, so she may have outgrown the tie-dye onesie, but something stuck.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Indi!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girl, Happy Birthday. I too have a 13 year old of the male stroppy variety. He too is lovely and not too old for a hug and kiss from mum when his mates are not looking. X
ReplyDeleteAh Kate Indi is stunning! 13 I know is huge. Finn turned 13 earlier this year. I still remember when they were both tiny, cherub like and georgeously cute! They are now becoming wonderful young adults. Love to you and Bren. Bec x x
ReplyDeleteShe is a gorgeous one Kate - enjoy your new life with a teenager!!
ReplyDeleteHope Indi had a fabulous birthday.