Gillian with baby brother, Gareth, 1969
Today it is my eldest daughter’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Gillian!
It is fitting that her birthday falls a month, by date at least, after her father’s birthday.
Gillian visiting her sister-in-law and new-born niece in hospital, 2001
You would like her, if you met her. She’s funny, observant, caring, organised, sometimes controlling - a dedicated wife, mother and teacher. She works with teenage boys, some of whom have immense difficulties in their lives, and manages to connect with them, guide them, be their friend without being condescending and without making the mistake of getting too close, though in private she weeps for the predicaments in which they find themselves. I could not do what she does.
Gillian loves sailing - she gets that from her father!! Her three children enjoy sailing, too.
I love and respect her, but I wish she’d stop trying to pigeon-hole me – I’m not ready to be ‘cared for’ just yet, but when I am, Gillian will be there, sorting me out, whether I want it or not.
Gillian with the Labradors, two of hers, two of ours. She behaves as instinctively with animals as she does with children.
Gillian sounds lovely, as you describe her, and that bossy element, typical in many ways of an oldest daughter, but then again how could she be different.
ReplyDeleteI'm pf the school that reckons birth chronology, namely position in family has an impact on us as we grow up, not the only impact of course but an impact nevertheless.
How lovely to have a supportive if overly 'pigeon-holing' daughter. At least she cares, as clearly you do too.
What a lovely daughter you have Janice. I would like to wish Gillian a very happy birthday. Thanks for stopping by my chipmunk post. Your question made me want to investigate them a little further, so I thought perhaps you would enjoy this website I found. It gives a little bit of information on them. http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312800/chipmunk.htm
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely daughter! Although I don't know her, I feel as if I got to see a bit of her through your eyes - so please send her my happiest birthday wishes!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Gillian! She sounds like someone I would love to have as my friend. I wish her the best birthday ever!
ReplyDeleteYour daughter does wonderful and important work. Happy Birthday Gillian!
ReplyDeleteDo you join them sometimes, or it it strictly a dad daughter thing. I must say, the yacht is very fancy.
ReplyDeleteCute, cute, cute! I love your header photo, too. Fuchsia is my favorite color.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post, and yes, I'm sure I would like her, very much :o)Wishing her a wonderful Birthday x
ReplyDeleteWow ! I didn't know that you have such an "old" daughter !! She seems to be a wonderful woman. I can't talk about daughters because I only have one son, he will be 38 and Toby's mother will be 37.
ReplyDeleteThe picture with the Labradors is so cute !
I do hope she had a beautiful birthday. Sounds as if she is truly deserving!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely daughter you have. Many happy returns!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Gillian - I can empathise with the situations she encounters with the teenagers and their home backgrounds. When I returned home after teaching in inner-city Nottingham I would get annoyed with the middle-class well to do teachers who complained about the most trivial of circumstances.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely Mum and a lovely daughter :O)
ReplyDeleteGillian sounds like a strong, beautiful person who meets all of life's challenges well.
ReplyDeleteHope she had a great birthday.