Little Pickle is Fifteen!

Dear LP

Every year I write you a letter on your birthday, and every year it seems to come round quicker than the year before. This year has flown by but, oh my gosh, what a joy you have been.

It feels like you have really found out who you are this year. You have a real sense of your own style, have chosen different hair cuts and are talking about getting piercings. And, as much as you still do eyeliner and interesting makeup at times, you are more often than not just bare faced, happy in your own skin.

This year was a big one for you. Year 10 at school, your first mock exam experiences, and making decisions that will impact the next stage of your life once school comes to a close. You did so well in all your exams this year and have been working so hard, revising regularly without much input from us and always doing your best. We could not be more proud of you.

We’ve been to college open days this year – and have already applied for your college place as you’re so set on what you want to do. You don’t know what the future holds after A-levels, but you’re looking to study French, History and Classical Civilisation – your love of Ancient Greece has become a big part of your life this year and we are definitely here for it.

I really love the interests you pick up – from your love of crochet to the newer interest in embroidery, making jewellery and all things Ancient Greece and Rome. You are one of the most interesting people I know and I am just so glad to have you in my life. I wonder often how I created someone so awesome.

Since your last birthday we went to New York and Washington – and saw Hamilton on Broadway, starring Leslie Odom Jr which was a dream come true for you. And tonight, for your birthday, we’re seeing him again in the London Hamilton show. Your love of Hamilton knows no bounds and hearing you sing all the songs in the shower brings me so much joy. We also saw Six this year which was a real highlight for you – and yet more songs that you sing in the shower!

New York and Washington were great and you especially loved all the Hamilton sites we discovered and going to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home. It was such a fantastic trip.

We also went to Paris in the summer holidays – so you could practice French for your GCSE – and your French accent will always be my one of my favourite things in life. Ever since you said the alphabet to me in French, and I heard you say ‘w’, your accent has brought me joy. It’s awesome – and I should have known then that it was a language that would end up being a big thing for you and something you’d want to pursue.

We also went to Disneyland Paris – and all agreed it wasn’t as good as Walt Disney World but it was fantastic all the same. We loved staying on site at Disney for the first time, and enjoyed the Club Level service too. But, we did not like going to bed late and getting up early. 0/10, would not recommend.

You went to Berlin on a school trip this year – and it felt like my arm had been cut off. I can’t explain how much I missed you. But, you had the best time. Due to covid it was the first school residential you had been on – and what a first residential it was! You saw all the sights and learnt a lot of history. You went to a concentration camp and I was so proud of you that you stayed outside for some parts as you knew your limits and knew it would be too much for you.

You still love music. We went to see Conan Gray at the O2 in May and it is now one of your favourite memories, and sharing that with you was amazing for me. You cried, we sang, it was everything. Plus, it’s probably the first time you’ve ever cried at a Christmas present. Santa did a good job last year!

You also love Cavetown – who I haven’t listened to yet, Chappell Roan, who you insist we can’t go to see as you only know three songs, and Epic the Musical. If it ever actually becomes a musical on stage it will make your life.

Last year I wrote ‘I feel like you got all your teenage moodiness and angst out of the way before you actually reached 13, as this last year has been pretty smooth sailing compared to the year before. We haven’t butted heads as much and most days I feel your love, rather than anger, upset or general moodiness. I feel like we’re closer this year, and long may that continue.’ and that is very much the same this year. You and I are so close and we rarely fall out, I rarely have to tell you off or pull you up about anything.

You’re a great kid and I really appreciate that it’s not easy being a teenager. It’s actually bloomin’ hard. But, you’re acing it. You have a really nice bunch of friends now – cousins, school friends and youth club friends – and seem to have really found your people. You know who you are and they do too and it’s lovely to be on the edge of that, just watching you shine.

You haven’t grown this year – or for a couple of years now – and may be destined to be dinky forever. Right now, you hate that but I know in time you’ll love it. All good things come in small packages – and you’re a really great teenie thing.

You and your brother are still really close, and you still watch Clone Wars or other random TV together. You also both play games, not often together but at least side by side. You still love The Sims, Dreamlight Valley and recently you’ve discovered Diablo too – definitely a new style of game to your previous ones!

Minecraft and Roblox still feature heavily in your gaming, and you would sit and doom scroll for hours through trash if I didn’t nudge you to put your phone down. One day you’ll be able to self-regulate that but for now I give you a little nudge and you do something more productive – usually making something or painting your nails to look like The Hungry Caterpillar.

You still love instant noodles but have also taken to eating a whole avocado at times – with plenty of salt and some chilli flakes added to it! You also love mango, love pomegranate and eat baby cucumbers like there’s no tomorrow. I have learnt to roll with your food choices and know that you’ll always eat enough – just maybe not at typical times of the day when most people eat. Breakfast is often a non-event.

LP, you are awesome. You are, without a doubt, one of the best things in my life. I could not love you more but, I don’t just love you because you’re my daughter and I have to. I love you because you’re quirky, you’re different, you are so comfortable in your own skin and you like what you like.

More than that, you are kind. You stick up for the underdog, you always have everyone’s back and you are just such an ally. You support all the good things in life and just want everyone to be treated fairly, to have the same opportunities and to have everyone show them kindness and compassion. You are a good egg.

I cannot believe you are fifteen. On the cusp of adulthood, with your GCSEs around the corner and just over a year until you start college and a whole new chapter in your life. Pickle, you have reached 15 far too quickly, if I could have slowed the time down I really would have – just like the eve of your fifth birthday when you were inconsolible because you wanted to be four forever! I really know that feeling.

But, as each year passes I just get more proud of you. It’s an honour to be in your life and to see you grow and develop into the person you’ve always been destined to be. You make us so happy and we could not love you more.

Happy 15th Birthday LP, keep being you.

Love,

Mummy and Daddy x