It’s my beautiful girls birthday today, so fitting that she should be my subject. My daughter is growing into a beautiful young woman and it is bitter sweet. Sometimes I look at her and it is breathtaking how lovely she is and that scares me too as I want her to stay my crazy little girl. The one who loves ‘Piggy’ her beloved stuffed toy, princesses and unicorns and all things shiny.
Alex is a creative, so much more than me. She lives in a world of rainbows and fairytales. Spends her days singing, dancing and dreaming, which as her Mum also drives me mad! Focus isn’t her thing but I do try to tell myself that its her personality and although I lose the plot sometimes because she is disorganised and unprepared, I don’t want her to change because she really is perfect as she is.
Name: Alex
Occupation: Student
1.Where were you born and raised?
Winchester, Hampshire. ‘I have lived in Windlesham most of my life.’
‘I live with my Mum, my Dad and my two brothers. It’s been a good childhood. It’s good because I have great family and they always support me in what I do. They make sure I do exciting things in my life even it it doesn’t benefit them.’
2.Tell me a childhood memory.
‘I remember always singing with Charlotte and some other girls at Windlesham Infant school, High School musical. I was always Sharpay because I was blonde and my friend Charlotte was always Gabriella ’cause she had brown hair. We used to sing duets and we would hang from the play frame.’
3.What is your favourite season and why?
‘My favourite time of year is summer because we are off school and we don’t have to plan the day and you can do more fun things other than going to school and doing homework. You can spend more time with family and friends and it also gives you an excuse to spend more time doing lazy stuff. Running around barefoot in the garden. I started planting my garden and having a fun time.’
4.Tell me about someone you love.
‘I love my friend Charlotte because we don’t have to try hard with each other, we don’t always have to try and make each other laugh and do fun things because we are so close we are like siblings in a way. We don’t try to impress each other we can just chill out. We always have fun in the end. She has always been there for me even though she thinks I am a bit crazy sometimes.’
5.What words of wisdom do you have for the readers about life.
‘My words of wisdom are to never underestimate your friends or reject them. Remember that they are always there for you and they are thinking about you. So just stay in touch with them because it is hard to find people that aren’t your family who genuinely want to spend time with you and love you.’
6.Dreams for the future.
‘To be a performer and to win an Oscar.’
Alex’s answers reminded me how young she really is. It’s hard when looking at her to realise she really is just a child and although at her age I was pretty much self sufficient my daughter very much relies on us and is still guided and supported by us. I am glad, I wouldn’t have it any other way, I want her to stay young and innocent as long as possible. Alex is very unusual that she isn’t in a race to grow up, she said she wants to stay 10 years old and although surprising for this generation I am rather glad. But sadly, she has no choice in that matter.
We both had a little cry when she answered question five. We have taken her away from her beloved friends and it is the only fly in the ointment to being here, missing the people that she, we, love the most. I hope in the long run it will be a good thing that we have done for our family but it hurts me that we have broken our baby girls heart and separated her from her friends and her big brother. I listen to her talk to her friends on Skype and she comes alive and is happy and laughing and being silly, it kills me.
Alex and I clash often, me being practical and her being the opposite but I love her and feel like I am her fierce protector. As with all parents I want her to have the world but I want her to find it for herself, she will never appreciate the great things if she doesn’t work hard to get them. She has dreams to sing, dance and act, already she can sing so beautifully, her acting and stage presence is mesmerising. I hope life and the difficulty of the industry she so wants to be part of is kind to her and doesn’t kill her dreams.
Nothing makes me more proud than to see her perform, she was made for it. She doesn’t need a trophy to show us how talented she is but I’d be a very proud Mum to watch my girl walk the red carpet, realise her dreams and take home an Oscar. You never know.
Whether she becomes a famous star or is just our shining light we are so proud of. Alex is sweet, humble, polite and so kind, a little loopy, always dancing and her timing is terrible but we love her and so does everyone who is privileged to meet her.
