Growing up

The shock and horror of the little blue line on the predictor kit has turned into two decades of joy, sadness, love, laughter, life and a sharing of something magical.

The sheer overwhelming feeling as the bundle of swaddling clothes was handed to me and I thought blimey what am I supposed to do with this.

Soon the importance of lip gloss and the latest fashion was replaced by the routine of bottle feeds, snoozles and the play group rota.

Baby manchilds first word was "dodo" which meant "towbar"... I should have known then my life would revolve around machinery, tractors and trailers... :))  "Normal" kids say "dada and mama" but not my wonderkid!

I fought to keep him out of the reception class for six months but at four years old, I let go of his hand and off he went in his little grey school jumper and blue stripey tie!  His shoes were scuffed by tea time.

I was a regular in the Heads Office explaining his inappropriate behaviour - but when you are a wonderkid and amazed in everything with wheels or that has a pulse, you get noticed out of a school of 72 kids.  I had to agree the dead shrew on the interest table did smell foul but the maggots were an interesting feature.

We were relieved of our primary education shackles when manchild moved up to secondary school and could loose himself amongst the mass of a 1,000 pupils.

Or so I thought - in year 7 trying to explain how he knew sperm travelled at 35 miles an hour compared to a John Deere's speed when ploughing a furrow, did stump me but not for long.

Parents evenings came and went and once I fathomed I could use it as a speed dating opportunity they became fun especially when coming face to face with my old teachers.

Prom night and his arrival on a spanking new green and yellow tractor announced to the world he knew where he was heading and despite his wonderkid exam results his destiny lay in a set of black and green overalls and a pair of oily rigger boots!

Graduating in Germany on a John Deere factory floor last year emphasised the wonderkid had now evolved into superman and although he can operate machinery that casts shadows over the ridge tiles he will always be my baby and need his collar straightening and his hair ruffled.