Do you know how bloggers often start off their blog posts by apologising for neglecting their blogs for days/weeks and then offering an excuse which usually includes work, ill health or family obligations. So here goes ...
It's been 4 years since my last blog post, but I've been so busy watching and re-watching Downton Abbey that I just couldn't find a moment.

Truthfully though, I haven't really felt the inclination to write - at first, because I had been going through a tough time when I last posted and I really didn't feel like recording that period of my life.

Blogging had always served a purpose - it helped me process my feelings and thoughts. Often, I'd start a post in a state of emotional turmoil and then gradually, as I wrote, I'd start to make sense of what I was feeling and even find some sort of resolution - a process which, more often than not, filled me with a feeling of calmness and serenity.

Which is what prompted my return to blogging after a ridiculous 4 year hiatus. This morning I found myself emotionally overwhelmed. I had returned from dropping the kids at school and found myself alone at home with only my sadness for companionship. I paced up and down the house, not knowing how to stem the wave of grief threatening to engulf me. Then, quite by chance, I happened upon my old blogging laptop where I sat down to write my sadness away.

"Today is my boy, Shakeel’s last day in school uniform and I’m sad. Really, really sad. Ridiculously so. My kids know how sentimental I am, so we’ve all been anticipating this day for months already – Shakeel viewing it with nervous dread, as today we also attend the valedictory assembly, which promises to be a rather emotional experience for even the most emotionally healthy parent (a category in which I obviously don’t find myself).

He recently watched in horror as I bawled my eyes out to the episode of Modern Family where Luke graduates from high school. He descended into near-despair as he watched me snot-sobbing to the episode of The Middle where Axel graduates and heads off to college. (Yes, I may have a comedy-series addiction, but that’s a problem for another day.)

But I assured him that I’d keep it together today. I would not embarrass him, I promised. But then my recent behavior hasn’t exactly inspired confidence.  On more than one occasion this week, he has caught me sneakily snapping pictures of him from the car outside his school when I dropped him off or picked him up. Let me tell you, I have new respect for the paparazzi. It’s not easy sneaking pictures of a young boy outside a school without looking like a pervert. And his anger was real – reminding me of Justin Bieber’s violent altercations with the paparazzi back in the day. (What? I may be a middle-aged aunty, but I still know stuff.)

Looking back in angrily when I ordered him to stop for a picture after getting out of the car this morning

Being photographed by a stalker in a car as he walked off to school yesterday morning

All 4 of my babies together in uniform for the last time 😢😢😢

So when he told me this morning that he’d forgotten something at home that I’d have to drop off at the school's front office this morning, I did not yell at him for being irresponsible (as I had done on the 40 previous occasions I’d had to do this for him.) He looked confused as I smiled gratefully, as if he’d given me a gift. I was pleased that I’d get to do this for him for the last time. I’d better not forget to take my camera along to capture the moment."

Aisha turns 3 - my sentimental kids say farewell to Aisha-as-a-2-year-old last night

My kids are very sentimental, always noting the significance of dates, times and places which are special and should therefore be forever etched in their memories.

Each year, the night before their respective birthdays, Shakeel (13) insists upon taking pictures of the birthday boy/girl; marking their last few hours at their present age. Before bedtime, there are excited exclamations of ''The next time we see you, you'll be X years old!'' or ''Enjoy your last few hours as a Y year old!''

Today Aisha turns 3. For the past few weeks Shakeel has been staring adoringly at his baby sister saying things like, ''You are no longer a baby. You are a toddler now, '' before squeezing the living daylights out of her.

As if sensing the end of an era, our clingy baby has miraculously started to disengage herself from our stifling bond and regularly opts to spend time with Elizabeth, our domestic worker instead.

In addition, for the past week, she is completely off the nappy.

This is also her fifth day without her precious boobies.

Much to my pride and grief , my daughter really is becoming a big girl.

My other kids too, felt particularly sentimental last night before bedtime when they said their final goodbyes to Aisha-as-a-2-year old. In accordance with their usual tradition, they took some farewell pics, while fussing over her - much to her delight.

Because the ritual was becoming too sad, they put on her favourite song and joined her in a ''Farewell to Aisha-as-a-2-year-old '' party.

I watched them, while snapping pics and fighting back tears of sadness, pride, gratitude and confusion. (No prizes for guessing from whom my kids inherited their sentimental natures).

Only at bedtime, as she lay in my arms, did I burst into a storm of sorrowful tears.

I realise that I am being completely foolish. So this morning, determined to yank myself out of my selfish misery, I looked at these pictures we took last night - and it made me laugh.

Today it's time to celebrate our new 3 year old!

I love this pic for Shakeel's adoring look at his little sister