Storytelling Sunday - June

It is that time of the month again when we grab our favourite beverage and sit down to read stories written by people all over the world.  It is a wonderful idea by the lovely Sian over at From High In The Sky.  If you like a story or three (or 50!!!) why not pop over and have a read and perhaps join in with a tale of your own :-)

With the Jubilee celebrations in the UK I have tried to think of a story that might go with that theme.  If we were still living in Ireland we would have flown over to the UK for the weekend and spent time with The LOML's family in Hexham and enjoyed the celebrations.  I hope that all of you living in the UK are embracing the fun and that the weather is bright and cheerful!  However, nothing suitable springs to mind so I will instead share with you a story about The Princess as she celebrated her 11th birthday this past month.

I Am Getting Bigger - a story about The Princess

The Princess is at a funny age, not a little kid anymore but not yet a teenager.   It is a strange age to be and this is enhanced by the fact that she is the oldest in her class.  Education curriculums differ widely in the early years from country to country, and when we moved back to Australia it was decided that it would be best if The Princess was slotted in a year below her age.  In some ways this has been a blessing as we still have 'a little girl' most of the time, even at almost 11.  But, she was still almost 11, and interesting situations have begun to  arise ...

This photo was taken close to the time of the story.

Most days the children are collected at school by the dad.  He gets the benefit of hearing all the school day stories immediately and full of excitement each day as he drives them to the shop.  By the time they arrive I only get the watered down 'highlight' version.  (Although the kids have realised that it is more fun to share the best news when we are all together and so they wait.  Yay!!!)  On this afternoon both boys were playing sport after school and it was only The Princess and the dad.  She was particularly quiet this day and was probably sitting there thinking about her brothers, as this was the first day that she was on her own in the car this school year.

When out of nowhere she pipes up and says "Dad, did you know I am getting bigger?"

"Mmmm" the dad replied as he wasn't really listening but concentrating on surviving school traffic.

"Soon I will need those things too."

The dad nearly crashed the car!  Thoughts about what 'those things' were flew through his head at one hundred miles an hour, while also thinking that this wasn't his domain and where was the mom when he needed her!

"Ok then" was his tentative reply.  Hoping that it would deflect any further questions.

"You know dad," The Princess said while lifting up her arm and pretending to spray underneath it, "The spray like the boys have."

I am sure you can imagine the huge sigh of relief from the dad that day when he realised that she was talking about deodorant.  He spent the rest of the journey trying to keep a straight face until he reached the store.  We laughed together as he repeated the story to me later that afternoon, while The Princess was occupied with her homework.  This will be a great tale for her 21st :-)

Happy 11th Birthday to our Princess!  She is definitely growing up as this year her birthday list included boots, clothes, jeans and jewelry.  And for the first time there wasn't a doll accessory in sight.

Chipper