We’ve reached the end of the school term and we have been fortunate enough to share in what our girls have enjoyed the most at school this year.

Last week, Gabster had her school sports day in the local park. Kev & I trooped down with snacks and a picnic blanket and watched our little girl hurtle laps alongside her friends with the promise of stickers. She was well decorated within ten minutes.

Then came the dad’s race. Only one other dad decided to run against Kev so that was a comfortable win, Gabby cheering away.

Next was the mums race. I watched Gabby whisper to her teacher. I thought I heard her say: “Can I go to my mummy?”

When she reached me, I immediately reminded her: “Mummy can’t run, darlin’.”

My little girl was completely unfazed. “I know. I’ll run for you.”

I didn’t even have time to take in what she’d said before my three year old took up a place alongside the other mums like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“She wants to run for you.” Kev called out from the finish line.

It is literally the most loving thing anyone so small could have done. I didn’t ask her, it was simply natural and her representation of me came without any fear or worry about not matching up to the other mummies. This little girl wasn’t in it to win, she was in it for me.

My heart exploded. I tried not to burst into tears as I watched her.

Later that week, her nursery class sent a video with all the children detailing their favourite moment from their first year.

My girl confidently declared: “The flower walk!”

I remember that day, the pain in my foot as I walked. But I didn’t want to let my girl down, so excited just to walk through town holding my hand, pointing out the different colour flowers.

The one benefit as a stay at home mum is that I am, or at should, be able to show up. So I hid the pain as best I could and smiled through it, even when I had to hand her back to her teacher to get her up the inaccessible stairs back into the school building.

Gabby’s glee at the memory of that moment meant that all she had seen  in these moments was her mum. My differences made no difference to my girl.  I am enough. What an absolute gift.