Hi all!

Our daughter has officially turned 5! I truly cannot believe it! In keeping with tradition, I am going to share everything I have learnt in five years as a first time parent. If you would like to see my past Parenting Reflections, click here. I have a lot to say, so without further ado, let’s get into it!

This year, Abigail started Kindergarten and with it, came a whole new set of skills, confidence and of course, friends! She went from being more of a lone wolf, to forming strong bonds with her peers – learning how to share, lose gracefully and interact with other children. I’m really proud of the progress she has made in such a short time. Following on from that, we have officially enrolled her in Primary School, which will commence early 2024. Time is moving so quickly!

We have been living in Hervey Bay for over a year now. Not only is our daughter proud to live in such a beautiful place, she is grasping that small town life is all about community spirit. Our friends here are our family, and we all look out for one another, including our children. It really does take a village!

The biggest change we’ve seen in Abigail from 4-5 years old, is her vocabulary. She asks lots of questions, uses big words like ‘excavator’ and ‘ginormous’ and loves to debate with her parents. I love watching her babble to her toys, as she engages in imaginary play. I hope she never loses her inquisitive spirit!

Abigail is eating a lot more. She’s hungry all the time. I need to keep my pantry fully stocked with snacks! She’s still fussy when it comes to healthy foods, but she’s trying more things and that’s a huge win in my book. She sleeps well at night but requires a tonsil extraction at the end of the year. That will improve her quality of life greatly.

Overall, my chicken has the biggest, kindest heart and to me, that is what makes a successful human being. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me in the journey of parenting. It’s certainly not easy but I love this age. It’s a lot of fun and I’m so lucky to be her mother.

Peace & Love xoxo