30 before 30: #1 – Meet my niece 

Completed: 18 Dec 2018

Well, I’d be a terrible person if I didn’t complete this one.

It’s what I’d been looking forward to throughout 2018 since I heard that my sister was pregnant with her first child. Being so far away from home I don’t see my family so much, but I was thrilled for her that she was expecting.

Ianthe is a Greek name and means purple flower. In the week that she was born, I spotted purple flowers growing on my land. One of life’s happy coincidences.

I’d been wondering what the first moment of meeting her would be like and then it happened all at once. I’d just got off the bus from London to Nottingham to meet my sister and was on my way to find wifi when I glanced left under a bus shelter and bang. There’s my sister. And in her arms? Hello Ianthe.

I’m not scared of children, but I don’t have baby experience. Growing up, my sister and I were the youngest of the sets of cousins on both sides of the family so when it comes to children in general, I get really scared that I’m going to break them. The babies themselves and their crying doesn’t worry me so much, but the idea of dropping them or something terrifies me.

 

But Ianthe’s different. I was happy to dive straight in and she seemed to enjoy it as much as I did. She likes energy and distraction and attention and I can give her that. I’ve managed to get her to sleep when needs be as well. Basically, she’s great. Even better than I was expecting.

Now, don’t go expecting me to suddenly father a child off the back of this, but when and if that time comes, I’ll be glad for it.

A short entry, this one as the goal was pretty simple. Nevertheless, it’s now four down, twenty-six to go. And I’m about halfway through the time limit. See the whole list and why I’m doing it here. 2019 will have to be better than 2018 was, but I do have some of the others on the go so it’s not quite as bad as it looks.

Days remaining: 154