While I’m delighted that my daughter has been offered her first choice place at university and I’m keen for her to take all the chances that are on offer, I can’t help wondering what impact her departure will have on the rest of us. I’ve been teasing my son for weeks that he’ll soon have his parents’ undivided attention – although I don’t believe he’s looking forward to this!
Earlier in the year I wrote a piece of flash fiction that imagined my daughter as the subject. It was included in the Flash-Fiction South West anthology titled Kissing Frankenstein & Other Stories. You can purchase a copy of the book here and I’ve pasted the piece below. I hope you enjoy this as my #fridayflash
Packing
- Clothes
- Tops: shirts and hoodies,
- Jeans: ripped, skinny, bootleg
- Skirts: mini, maxi, puff
- Bras: underwired and padded
- Knickers: pretty ones only
- Shoes: heels, flats, Converse
- Makeup (ditch dried-up nail varnish)
- Jewellery (silver-dip before packing)
- Hairdryer and straighteners
- Pencil case
- Highlighters
- Gel pens
- Retractable pencils
- Ammonite found at Charmouth (wrap in tissue – put in box with flowers on lid)
- Paperback (any)
- Pillowcase with Broderie Anglaise trim
- Foxy Lady mug
- Remember: thermal socks, hot water bottle, Little Ted, ring binder with campus information
I’ll let you know in few weeks, whether this has any resemblance to reality.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
Oh so different once they leave – that’s looks like a pretty good list ^_^
Thanks, Helen
and the small hole in the heart to echo the gaps in their bedrooms where these items once resided. Funny I was getting melancholic this week for hearing paddling pool sounds over next door’s fence, and thinking never would my 14 year old twins indulge in such innocent play again with me looking on…
Thanks!
I’ve managed to think of one good thing about having one child leave home and the other enter the sixth form. That is: I’ll never have to buy school uniform again! Nor will there be a trip to the shoe shop during the last week of the holidays! Hurray!
Quite a list! Good luck as your nest starts to empty.
Thank you
I’m sure she’ll be back, with laundry if nothing else. While I’m sorry the nest is emptying, congratulations to her on landing her first choice!
She says she’s not coming home until Christmas – unless she gets ill!