Settling on the sofa, I watched my daughter, Sharlotte, six, prancing, jumping, kicking and generally showing off. ‘Look Mummy,’ she said, attempting a roly-poly.
‘Amazing!’ I cheered. There was no doubt our Sharlotte loved an audience, and she always had one, whether it was me, her dad Kris, then 32, or her big brother and sister, Paul, 13, and Eva, 10.
She was so funny and cheeky, she suited her nickname, ‘Monkey’. Sharlotte loved to play dress up and was always sneaking into my make-up bag for my lipstick to smear on or begging to have her nails painted.
Now, in June 2021, her new favourite thing was gymnastics. ‘Can I have a proper leotard please, Mummy?’ Sharlotte grinned, looking at me with flushed cheeks.
‘When you’ve been going for two months,’ I promised. I wanted to make sure she could stick to the classes before splashing out on the gear.
Nodding, she went back to practising her forward rolls. Fearless, she was never afraid of anything and gave her all to whatever she tried.
Earlier in the week, she’d been to hospital to get some teeth removed and handled it like a trouper. I decided she needed a treat, so with the older two spending the weekend with their dad, my expartner, I had a friend staying over that night, and I planned a girly night in with Sharlotte – face masks, nail painting, movies and treats – all things she loved.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 20, 2023 من WOMAN'S OWN.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 20, 2023 من WOMAN'S OWN.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
MY SON DIED HELPING OTHERS
Christine Parry is determined to continue her son's heroic work in Ukraine
I'M A MIDLIFE DADDY'S GIRL
Rachel Tompkins, 44, loves having a close relationship with her father
BECKHAMS' BUST-UPS
Posh and Becks are preparing to mark 25 years of marriage, but is all well in paradise?
DO VIRAL BEAUTY HACKS REALLY WORK?
Intrigued by hair and skincare advice trending on TikTok, Julie Cook, 46, decided to put it to the test
MEXICAN ONE-DISH DINNERS
Spice up midweek meals with these thrifty favourites
BANISH BINGO WINGS
Say 'hello' to sculpted arms this summer - just give these six easy moves a try
HOMELESS TO MILLIONAIRE
With her house repossessed and deep in depression, Caroline Strawson, 50, was determined to transform her life
THIS MORNING IN CRISIS!
Are new presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard set to be replaced already?
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on cooked brealdfasts, divorce and cleaning
GOING SOLO
Claire Waite Brown, 52, hadn't travelled alone for over 30 years