A letter to my 5-year-old Lavinia

🇮🇹La versione italiana è sul DailyPinner🇮🇹

Happy 5th Birthday, my sweet girl! I can hardly believe we’re already celebrating this special milestone.

It feels like just yesterday that I was on a long and difficult journey to bring you into the world. Becoming your mum was my life’s greatest mission, and going through IVF was both challenging and fascinating—a true test of patience, courage, and faith. We wanted you with all our heart, and knowing you now makes every single step of that journey more precious than I could have ever imagined.

Your early years were met with a challenge none of us saw coming. The pandemic made life a little tougher, and it could’ve been hard for a baby to grow up in such a time. But even then, you shone. You’ve always been an easy-going, wonderful child.

While life felt uncertain, you brought light and joy. You amazed me daily with how kind, generous, and gentle you are. I’m not just saying this as your mum—everyone who meets you sees the kindness you carry so naturally. You’ve always been willing to talk things through, open to understanding, and incredibly respectful. You’ve rarely had a huge tantrum or a fuss; instead, you come to every situation with understanding and willing to negotiate.

It’s no surprise you say you want to be a childminder. You have such a gentle soul, and I see how much you care about helping others. Even at school, you’re a great friend and such a wonderful helper to your teachers. You’re learning quickly, but more than that, you’re always there for your friends, making sure everyone feels included and cared for, especially the shy ones. I couldn’t be prouder of the young person you’re growing into—thoughtful, caring, and endlessly curious.

Being your mum is the most fun and fascinating adventure I’ve ever been on. You keep me on my toes in the best ways, and taking care of you is my greatest privilege. Yes, you’re still little, and you need me for so much—but I know these days are precious and won’t last forever. I try to savour every hug, every chat, and every moment we share.

As you turn five, my wish for you is that the next years are filled with even more love, laughter, and joy for our family. I hope we all live, grow, and thrive in ways we can’t yet imagine and that you feel loved and supported every step of the way.