You’ll never walk alone

Gabe

Gabe’s school choir sang at the Liverpool Performing Arts Festival at St George’s Hall. As the choir from Manchester, their competitors came from across Merseyside. They were amongst the last to sing in the first class, with a high standard set. But the harmonies and crispness of their singing set them apart. An audience of partisan (Scouse) parents was moved by ‘You’ll never walk alone’, with L and the other Mums of the kids shedding tears. They were awarded a joint gold medal. In the second class, for hymns, their richness of their singing lifted them high above their competitors. They won a second gold – outright.

Back at school, the choir were met by their classmates, who made them a guard of honour to progress through. Gabe was proud and delighted. He admitted to nerves and fearing forgetting the words when up on stage. I hope he can remember the occasion and the delight of being part of such a beautiful, controlled musical performance.

Eliza

Eliza’s second parents’ evening of the school year confirmed that she is making good academic progress. The most touching comment was that several times she has gone up to her teacher, looking forlorn, and asked for her Mummy.

Robin

Robin roamed the garden in the spring sunshine. He walked up to his baby tricycle and gave it a push. He kicked the plastic basket behind the seat, cracking it and then with another kick broke it and then walked away. L and I were watching. I asked him later how it had been broken. He didn’t own up to it.

In loco parentis

L and I had a night away to celebrate her 40th birthday. It was only the second night that the three children have gone to bed and woken up without us; and there was one other occasion when Gabe still had no siblings. They seemed to cope well, with no dramas or misbehaviour. L’s parents did the looking-after.

Robin

Robin has found himself a warm spot, where he likes to sit in the bathroom, before or after his evening wash. He nudges his way into a nook created by the corner of the bath, the radiator and the washing basket.

Gabe

Gabe won’t be alone on the ground floor or first floor, even with other people in the house. If he has to get dressed while everyone else is in the kitchen, he cajoles Robin to go upstairs with him. L and I are trying not to indulge this fear, without managing to help Gabe deal with it.

Eliza

Despite Eliza’s gymnastic prowess, she hadn’t been able to do a cartwheel. But with some guidance from her gym teacher, and determined practice she has banished the imperfections from her kick, handstand and landing. She wheels back and forth across her bedroom, the living room, kitchen and around the goalposts at Conway Road park. If she has an audience, which she always encourages, she calls for marks out of 10. Eliza pushes again and again until she gets a 10 or the judge withdraws.