Today is my daughters 26th birthday.  I was 26 and one month when she was born.  I would have been slightly younger if she hadn’t arrived 10 days late.

On my last check up the obstetrician remarked on my small bump and predicted a small baby, saying “you could drive a tractor through that pelvis, you’ll be fine.”

No one tells you how much babies grow when they are overdue.  All the development is done, so they concentrate on gaining weight, as they would outside the womb.  And gain she did.  The tractor accommodating pelvis wasn’t prepared for a 9lbs 3½ozs baby.  So with brute force and forceps Charlotte came into the world as a fully formed baby looking more like three months old than three minutes.

I’m sure all expectant women and their partners talk about who the baby will look like.  Every family has someone that you secretly hope your baby doesn’t resemble.  “I hope the baby has your looks and my brain” said my husband.

I had pictured a long, dark haired baby with delicate features.  I was presented with a swollen toddler with fair hair and – her father’s face.  This wasn’t the plan at all.  The nurses came in through the night and each one said the same.  “No mistaking who the father is.”

The next day with the swelling gone Charlotte did have delicate features; she was gorgeous, perfect, and huge!  All those teeny tiny baby clothes didn’t fit.  She was a wonderful content baby and I was lucky enough to stay at home and care for her.  As daunting as having a new baby was I also had a new best friend.

After watching my company car drive off down the road, an action that symbolised the end of an era for me.  Along with it went my salary, expense account, figure and freedom.  I was to be a responsible adult, a wife and parent, me, the career girl who loved her job, who worked hard and played hard. 

How lucky I was to meet Cathy at anti natal class who happened to live in the same road.  We had never met before but knew instantly that we would be friends, kindred spirits on the path to parenthood.  So for 11 years we brought up our children together and saved each other’s souls.  Was there anything we didn’t talk about?  I don’t think so, I’m sure we covered every subject.

How those years fly when your children are at school, you devote all your attention to helping them become adults.  The school plays, not to say the school runs, sewing in name labels the night before a new term, cooking cakes for the fete, helping with homework – oh wait – that wasn’t me, I forgot to say my daughter got her father’s looks and his brain.

Where have those 26 years gone?  I’m reflecting now, all those wonderful fun filled years and the joy of being a parent.  Now I have my freedom back, ok not quite my figure but I’m starting a new journey by working again, taking up the career I put on hold 26 years ago.

And Charlotte, the independent career girl, working hard and playing hard?  She said “Phew I’m now 26 and history can’t repeat itself.”  

The image is from the Sunday Times Magazine published at the time of Charlotte’s birth.