First Christmas at home with our daughter was not the easiest

There were a lot of tears, a few regrets, and a young lady who seemed very lost and confused at times. My instinct is to gather her in my arms and protect her from the outside influences that frustrate her and get in the way of her path to adulthood. But that is unrealistic and does not do justice to her determination and extraordinary resilience.

Last evening she was at her very best and I think genuinely enjoying herself. We had the two youngest nieces round for a sleepover, plus I was keeping an eye on the two girls next door. By 7pm everyone was fed, bathed and warm and snug in pyjamas/nightwear. My daughter had four little girls sitting around her on the floor near the fire spellbound by her reading them [i]James and the Giant Peach[/i]. There was a sparkle in her eyes and a glow on her cheeks.

After we had got the last one settled down for the night I told her that was best storytime I had ever listened to. She shrugged and smiled in her mysterious way. We had a nice rest of the evening together and this morning I think spirits are on their way to being restored.