DS9 has started cycling home on his own from school. (Yes, we’re lucky to live here where cycling is the norm, not the exception.) Which is fantastic for many reasons. Gets me off the hook [just joking!], gives him some freedom, great for his health and self-confidence. And – being 2009, the year Copenhagen is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference– it’s of course great for the environment 😉

And when DS9 comes through the gate, cheeks rosy, eyes shining, all togged up with his cycle helmet on and huge school backpack on his pack, it happens. Yes, I get that little ‘Mum’ tear in the corner of my eye…

I think they put those tears into your system when your first baby comes out. I can get one at the strangest times and 9 years later they are coming closer and closer together! 🙂 They normally appear when I hear kids singing Christmas songs (not even kids I know), when people tie the knot (again I don’t necessarily have to know the couple…) and when listening to personal speeches at Danish birthday parties (yes, I may never have met these people before). Or watching kids watching kids’ theatre (?!) and [thanks to OzDane for reminding me about this particular one] seeing the Danish football team’s faces listening to the Danish national anthem (and I’m not even Danish)…

And then there is the killer – when we sing Barndommens Land in assembly hall when the new school term starts. Never fails. This year I thought I was doing really well, cool as the proverbial cucumber. Until we got to the very last verse and – voom – it hit me! 🙂 My favourite teacher always gives me a knowing look when that song finishes because we BOTH can’t stop the tears! LOL

I’m afraid I can’t find a decent English translation of the song, but basically it’s a bittersweet description of the journey from boy to man. I’ve finally decided to stop worrying about how to stop or cover up those ‘Mum’ tears. Yes, I’m going to be terribly philosophical about the whole darn thing and see them as a part of my journey from girl to woman! 😉