Since we were last together I have done three new things. First, I have joined a pilates class. I’m not a fan of exercise and the thought of a room full of sweaty lycra-clad ladies fills me with horror. Pilates, it turns out, is a combination of holding muscle-tightening poses and lying on a nice squashy mat. However, I had no idea that standing on one leg or lying on the floor with your legs in the air could induce such pain! Whilst I will not be investing in anything lycra I am starting to feel the benefits and will soon be doing the plank like a pro. Go me!
My second new experience was a stained glass design day. My friend Katie, (terribly artistic and talented and whom I am sure will one day turn her back on normal society and live in a cabin in the woods whittling spoons and knitting her own clothes out of nettles) had invited me to join in and I had no idea what to expect. I had, however, taken with me a picture of a whale tail disappearing into the depths of the sea and hoped to use it as inspiration for a design. An hour later I had a hand drawn, hand cut jigsaw puzzle of my window in paper. The process of turning the slightly child-like design into a piece of glass art was a steady, clever, fascinating and very exciting journey. The concentration required meant I thought of nothing else – ironing, dinner, bills, work – all gone. In that little studio, for six hours, all that mattered was me learning something different for no reason other than I could. Awesome!
My final and by far most terrifying new experience was helping with a friend’s daughter’s 13th birthday party. Now, 13 is obviously a tricky age for a young lady and as the hired hall filled with more and more teenagers there seemed, to my eyes, to be two main groups. Group A – loud, confident, highly polished, all flowing hair, grown up clothes, fashion, flawless make up and pouting selfies. Group B – clinging to the last petals of childhood, trainers, leggings, hoodies and the occasional hair ribbon. Two very different groups which were obviously as un-mixable as oil and water yet the surprising thing was they all mingled together without any issues or judgements. As a very uncool Mum-on-the-Side-in-Sensible-Shoes forbidden to go anywhere near the dance floor, I watched the dancing, the huddling in corners, the squealing, the picture-taking and the laughing with interest. No matter what the individual style or confidence, as a group they were unstoppable. Then I realised that in just a few short years these beautiful girls, including my own daughter, will be going into the world as adults and making important life choices. The strength they will gain from these early friendships is priceless and whilst some relationships will fade others will remain strong and new ones will be forged. There is one thing you can be certain of, though – when they arrive they will arrive in style (and I’ll still be in my sensible shoes)!