Lucky one

Yesterday was a momentous occasion.

My second and last baby officially graduated from primary school.

It was yet another threshold to cross over in the journey leaving childhood behind.

During the ceremony, I naturally became emotional at certain moments. But the most unexpected moment was not just at the bit with Grace (which of course I did very much so... she was still my baby girl after all). 

There was a part of the ceremony when the Year 6 special needs students went up on stage, and there was one boy in particular with baby face features that somehow reminded me a little of Nathan's chubby cheeks as a baby. 

I watched this boy's mother accompany him up onto the stage, patiently guiding his wobbly steps up the steps and gently nudging his attention to make eye contact with the principal handing him his certificate.

They read out his reflections and aspirations on the big screen above the stage.

"I will miss being with my teachers and friends at school... my proudest moment is going on the Big Day Out with my class... one day I hope to become a train or bus driver..."

And I thought to myself: in another reality, that mother could be me and that child mine.

No divine intervention here.

I was simply dealt the hand I have in this life.

We simply work with what we've got and do the best we can with what we've been given or entrusted with.

I was not a better mother than her in any way.

She worked just as hard as I have, perhaps even more so, to help her child get to this point.

Her child and mine now standing on the same stage in two very different places.

The contrast a revelation.

I could not say who between us is the lucky one.

Because I can see in her face she knows she is the lucky one to be the mother of her child.

I am the lucky one to be the mother of mine.

Neither love is any greater or any less.

We are just both here right now.

Holding our little one's hand for as long as they need.