If only I could make her see...

How much she means to me and how proud I am that she is my daughter, who she is and will become. Today we have celebrated a great day to be a Hammond, in Anna winning a place at the Norwich City academy for girls for the 2016/2017 season. I sobbed with pride on the way home after Amy rang me to tell me the news and can't stop smiling (I do need to be a bit careful and not live my dreams vicariously through my children though!) That's not the reason for my blog post though. Lucy is a sensitive soul and suffering a real crisis of confidence and whilst happy for her sister, struggled with the fact that with all she tries and does, she does not seem to have the same level of high profile success as her sister or in her mind anybody else. I tried to explain to her that I may not be cheering her on by the side of a pitch or raving on about her latest football game or result, but not a day goes by when she doesn't render me breathless with her beauty and wit, from the day they were born, she and her sister have captivated me for different reasons. I love watching the different journeys they are forging for themselves. Lucy is generous in her nature, her wish to help others is quietly lovely - this always shines through in her play in her room early in the morning when she thinks we are not listening, her work ethic at school, her love of collecting little things, her comic timing, her extensive imagination, her devotion to Oddball and original wit. They are all components that make up one of the most beautiful and amazing people in my world. I have felt like it since the day she was born and that will never go away. I may never witness her scoring a winning goal, but I may watch from afar beaming with pride as she builds a quiet and worthwhile career helping others by being a teacher for example as she sometimes talks of. Anna is gregarious and all about the show. Lucy is quiet and understated and I want to help her believe in the person I see growing up before me. A great person who quietly wins every day. Keep being you Lucy, you will be defined by not what people say about you, what you think they want you to be or how hard they cheer, but by the impact you have on them and how that makes you feel. When seeking approval or ratification, go with the ones who give this naturally and without asking anything in return. Anna would love the cheers of the crowd, not because she has no substance, as she is a kind and loving girl, but because its in her nature to want the applause and the thrill. So Lucy, be Lucy and lets see where it takes you. I predict great things....

We really do speak to each other like that!

I was ribbing Anna this weekend at her footy training session re starting ballet  lessons and she came back at me with 'you'd look great in a pink Tutu fatty!' Her coach looked at me, smiled and high fived Anna with much praise for her great comeback! Later her coach told me how she thought that was quite quick witted for an eight year old. I explained that we have been sarcastically arguing with each other since the day she was born! As indicated by Mrs Hammond's facial expression, this can sometimes come back to haunt us. We do speak to the girls in a very grown up fashion and as they continue to learn more developed and adult social boundaries, let's say, a line can sometimes be crossed! Lucy has definitely moved beyond entry level sarcasm and to coin her phrase can often be just a little bit 'sassy'! Her intelligent use of this lowest form of wit can often be greatly beyond her years, it's not so admirable if you are on the receiving end though. I do wish to continue to try and teach them all ways of communicating but worry about how well I am arming our girls for the battleground that all parents face in the teenage years, when I am the opposition. Its like arming your enemy with a nuclear weapon when all you have is a stick! I am going to find out in the next year or so and the sarcasm will come thick and fast I am sure. In the mean time I will gather my own list of classic comebacks to ensure I am at least able to defend myself. Bring on those teenage years, I am ready (sort of, maybe, perhaps I need a bit more time...)

I came in like a pineapple!

Lucy often comes up with random and silly songs, usually delivered with a comedy accent. Her latest effort is the following song and only god knows from what dark depths of her brain this one came from! 'I came in like a pineapple, with extra cheese balls and don't forget the chilli sauce!' This song even comes with its own dance.To celebrate this wacky song, Amy found her a pineapple t-shirt and the completed irony of her sticking her tongue out in the photo I took  earlier today, is that she is not well this evening and being sick in the sink! I have just seen that expression again, but for real this time. Anna has also spent the day with a poorly tummy as well, so its definitely going to be a good night tonight in the Hammond house! Amy has us all eating a low fat diet, perhaps the children in the house are staging a protest of sorts! Get well soon both of you and may I hear many more pineapple songs tomorrow....xx

And the trophys keep rolling in....

The week of my forty second birthday has been rich with bounty for the Hammonds in the form of rosettes and trophies galore! Inky won third place in the 'child's best friend' category and fifth in the 'dog most like owner' category at the Narborough fair dog section last weekend. It may have taken some seriously fictitious discussion by the girls with the judges, but who cares! I managed to get my name on the 'Sylvia trophy' family golf tournament in sharing joint first place with Uncle Stu with both some outstanding and at times shocking golf! More bounty came my way on Tuesday in the form of some lovely presents including a portrait of Amy, a very posh umbrella and some great time spent with  very old friends on my birthday. Lucy has been away for most of the week at guide camp and I cannot tell you how much I have missed her. It was great to pick her up today, she did not even let me get out of the car before she jumped me and gave me a 'never let me go' hug. Best part of the whole week, without a doubt. You can take all the trophies in the world back, just give me a hug and time with my girls and I am happy for eternity (maybe with a bit of football and Mrs Hammond thrown in as well!) Been a bit skint of late, but in those few seconds of that hug I realised I am rich beyond words...