Growing up

This week has been full of highs and lows (see earlier post).  The "high" of this week was Miss A getting her uniforms for high school next year and meeting the girls who will share her class.  This was a morning of mixed emotions for me, and one filled with excitement and anticipation for Miss A.  I am SO proud of my beautiful daughter as she looks forward to next year with excitement and confidence, she is ready for the next big step in her life.  Am I ready for this?  Not so sure! 

My baby is growing up (way too quickly) and wants to do things without me - like catch the train home from school ..... on the first day!!  This is a good thing (I tell myself) that she feels ready to do this (under the supervision of a Year 12 student) - BUT .... my little girl - on a train - without me there to keep her safe?

This is just one of the many challenges that face us as parents - allowing our children to do things on their own.  Something that begins very early in their life as we allow them to explore their environment and their abilities - but we generally control that environment.  Most dangers have been removed and we are there to pick them up when they fall.  Now I'm not going anywhere, I will still be there to pick her up when she falls, its just that the risks have increased - a thousand fold! 

This is my challenge - to overcome my fears, assess the possible risks and then make a decision.  I swear it was just yesterday that I was hovering around as she took her first few steps in life - and now she wants to get a train on her own - aghhhhhh!!  And what is truely terrifying is that in five years she will be getting ready to take on the world ...... but one step at a time!!

Lesson learnt

Have you ever done something that (in hindsight) was really dumb?  I generally have quite a few of those moments in a week - but none as big as my "stuff up" this week (at least not for quite some time). 

It is "get ready for the annual dance concert" time in our house.  As the girls excitedly learn their new routines, I help Miss K (dance teacher) with the costuming.  This is a task that I quite enjoy - usually!  Last week I made 20 waistcoasts, this week it was 17 overlays for tutu's and matching gloves ....... here comes the stupidity!

On Wednesday two lovely friends came over to cut out gloves while I sewed.  I made a sample glove for Miss A to make sure they fit - yes it did, so let the cutting begin.  A whole day spent cutting and sewing.  Feeling very satisfied with myself that another one of my jobs was "ticked" off (wait for it ....).  I'm at the Studio to show off my handiwork ..... the gloves don't fit!!!  I had (stupidly) used a different lycra for the sample (as the fabric I was using was $30/metre) ...... BIG MISTAKE.  The beautiful black velvet lycra I used for the gloves didn't have the same stretch ........... how did I not realise this BEFORE making 17 pairs of gloves??? 

That feeling of triumph and satisfaction turned very quickly into feeling VERY hopeless.  How had I missed that?  Why didn't I do the sample in the velvet?  I had just wasted a whole day - of not only my time, but that of two others.  And my mistake was going to cost me $60 and another day.  I slunk out of the studio feeling very angry with myself. 

So - the lesson learnt this week ...... ALWAYS do samples in the fabric you are planning to use.  Using that scrap of fabric that is "almost the same" is not always going to work!