hugging your children a little bit closer

There is a change from the normal Friday proceedings on Dear Beautiful Boy today.

There will be no Meeting You, Finding Me today.

Instead I want to talk about something which is very close to my heart,

Because today is Children in Need.

I will watch Children in Need tonight like I do every year.

I will cry like I do every year 

at the stories of children in our own country 

who are suffering or struggling.

But I know before I even watch it,

that I will find it harder to watch this year.

Last year the crazy pregnancy hormones 

meant that I watched practically the whole programme 

from behind a tissue.

But this year I am a mum.

I have a child.

A child who I would do anything for.

A child who I would defend from harm with my last breath.

A child who I have brought into this crazy world,

and who I want to protect from the hurt and fear that inhabit it.

I can guarantee that at more than one point tonight

I will seriously consider

waking my beautiful sleeping baby

just so that I can hug him a little closer.

So that I can breathe him in

and be thankful that I have him,

that he is healthy

and that we are healthy enough to care for him.

Watching programmes like Children in Need

make you realise that you have so much to be grateful for.

They give everyday worries some much needed perspective.

Because all children are gifts.

Gifts that we are extremely privileged to receive.

But not all children get the same chances,

the same opportunities.

Not all children are safe and happy and secure.

Some children go through terrible things

which would break even the strongest of adults.

Some children have to grow up much faster than they should.

And as a parent

the idea that my child would ever be anything 

other than blissfully happy,

actually physically hurts.

So please donate to Children in Need.

I have.

Either watch tonight and phone in,

or go to their website 

and you'll find that there are a variety of different ways to give money

to help disadvantaged children.

And hug your babies a little bit closer before they go to bed tonight,
and a little bit tighter,
and for a little bit longer.

I will be.

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