At the end of June my daughter is going away. She is leaving us behind and ‘going it alone’.

From those two sentences you’d think she’s leaving home to go to university in a city miles from here or moving out to live in her own house but, no. As much as it feels like she’s moving away, she’s leaving us for just two nights to go on her Brownie pack holiday!

I think it’s a great opportunity for her but I am dreading her being away from us.

Molly has had sleepovers at her Grandma’s house (just next door) and my Aunt’s but has never been without a member of her family.

When I went to the meeting months ago and heard about what she’ll be doing and discovered how long she’ll be away from us I nearly wept! She’s my baby. She needs her Mum…all the time. Or is it more a case of I need her?!

Looking at this objectively it may change her, and our relationship, for the better. She is rather dependent on me at times. I’m always there to pick up after her and chase her up on things she should have done, no matter how many times I threaten to never do it. There will be none of that while she’s away. The girls all have to be responsible for their belongings and they’ll be on a rota for cleaning, cooking, serving, preparing for dinner and her pet hate – tidying up. She’ll have no choice in the matter.

It could be just what we both need. I’ll be reporting back after her weekend away!