My life

This book is my life! Everything to the air cadet etc! I am now dating the guy I met when I was 16 and we drifted apart. We are now 46 and still feel like teenagers, we are making up for lost time! Simon I love you so much. Lx

Flo

My mum is 'Old School'. Born in the '20's she was the only girl in a family of boys, and was always there to help them out. As a mum she has always been fair, even when I told her I was pregnant at 16! Yes, she was upset, but her concern was for me, not what the neighbours thought! She and my dad gave us a wedding and somewhere to live, and was always there to guide and advise, not nag and criticize! She was as good a mum as a grandmother when I went back to work, and my daughter being the first grandchild only had them both to herself. She has never been one to be 'in and out'of other peoples houses, yet has always been around for people to talk to, and always made our friends feel welcome, no matter what time of day we brought them in! She, with my dad, supported all of us in our life choices, and didn't interfere if some of them were not necessarily the best! When my dad passed away, he heart was broken, and she kept her grieving within her, yet managed to help all of us with ours. As a grandmother she is everything the clichés say, witty, a bit dotty at times, calming and caring, and loved by all her grandchildren and now great grandchildren! Not one to show her emotions, she never says I Love you, but it is written all over her octogenarian face! Although we live away from each other now, she has even become a 'Silver Surfer' so we can keep in touch by computer. Mum, you are One In A Million, and you have been a great inspiration to all of us. I love you!

My Wonderful Girls

I would like to tell my daughters that they are so loved and always will be I want you to live your lives to the full, never be afraid of what life throws at you but accept it as a challenge. I want you to love, respect and accept each other, you are so different from each other but you also need each other, you are like chalk and cheese but you also compliment one another. I am so very proud of you both and I never tell you enough how much, you only have to see my face when you sing in concerts, I could burst with pride!
I want you both to go out into the world and shake it to its very core, you are the next generation and you can both make a difference. I LOVE YOU,LOVE MUM xxx

Things I Know...

I said my final goodbye to my dear, sweet Mother June 25th 2011 at 1:40am. It was a very bittersweet moment as she had been battling cancer for 3 years, but she gave it one hell of a fight. I am my Mum's first born and when my father left when I was 3 and my brother no more than 1, I became her best friend as she always said. We have always had a very close, special relationship that was the envy of a lot of my friends. I understood my Mum and appreciated her for her actual person, not for granted because she was just 'Mum'. When I found out my Mum had breast cancer was over the phone, as I was in my second year at university and lived in another city. The moment will be with me forever. The next time that is like a movie in my head is when i got a sad phonecall early on morning, my mum explaining that her hair had fallen out. I got on the first train and made the 3 hours home to comfort her. I cared for her in the 7 months i had off from university, all the way through her chemotherapy. I would stay up with her in the nights when pain stopped her from sleeping. I listened to her thoughts, her fears and wishes. When i look back now, i know all along my Mum was preparing me for her death. Letting me know what i had to do once she was gone. It has been a very stressful 6 months and i dont know another 23 year old who has had to sort out everything like i have. This is my first christmas without my Mother and this is the toughest i've felt her loss so far. I dont know if i'll ever get rid of this feeling but in her own way she let me know that life goes on, the world doesnt stop just for you, and you have to make the most of what you have and aim for the stars.

Moved by this book

I wasn't sure how far I'd get with this book as every time I picked it up and read a few pages I ended up crying. As a mother of daughters I loved the idea of the book and it made me think of what I would write to them in letters if I was in the same position as Barbara. It made me think about my mum and how I should appreciate her more while I still have her instead of being irritated by the changes in her brought about by old age. I know I would miss her even though our relationship has grown more difficult over the years as I've grown and realised how she held me back because she was scared of losing me.
It wasn't that side of the story that most touched me though, it was more the relationship between Jennifer and Stephen, particularly the conversation between Jennifer and her mother-in-law about her marriage. I am staying in a marriage I am not content in but because it isn't awful I stay because of my children. Am I doing the right thing, will I regret it in years to come? I don't know. I do know that it is something I can't discuss with my own mother, she wouldn't understand me wanting to leave. She thinks the state of my marriage is my responsibility but doesn't know how unhappy and unloved I have felt for the past 10 years or more.

I wish I'd known...

I wish I'd known...

That clothes don't have to be low-cut and tight to be sexy.

That jealousy isn't flattering.

That violent and volatile relationships are not passionate, they're just unpleasant.

That the excuse 'but I know that he loves me deep down, in spite of everything' was just fear of change.

That sometimes it really is good to talk.

These are the things I will tell my daughter.