For nearly a year, it’s been you and me.

Coffee, group, toddlers and lullababy.

No long, slow mornings, lengthly cuddles

You in the pram, Soph splashing puddles.

Therapy sessions and a touch of PND.

You’ve healed so much of this heart that’s in me.

Today is the day for quite a big change,

I hope you won’t find it all too strange.

I’ve put in your bag giraffe slippers and Lamby.

We bought him when you were millimetres, just three!

In a big world for you, something from home,

Give him a cuddle if you’re feeling alone.

I know it’s hard, and this rhythm is all new.

But I said it to Soph, I say it to you:

You can’t fly off one day to Burundi*

If you don’t do this first and go off to nursery.

*whatever ‘Burundi’ looks like for Aidan. Going to Africa with some people I hardly knew at age 19 was one of the scariest and best things I ever did.