DS (just gone into Yr7) has gone out this afternoon after school with some new pals. He went off on his bike to the park, then went off to someone's house to hang out.
Such a small thing, and he should have been doing it for years. But because we couldn't get into any of the local schools when we moved here (were at another school in a town 5 miles away on dodgy roads) he has not been able to do this before really. Yes he has had play dates and I used to pick him up later from primary school so he could go to the park. But this is that kind of free-range "going out" he hasn't really been able to do. Friends on his doorstep.
I have spent the last 2 hours equally delighted and terrified. There were fuck ups. We'd agreed he would send me a message if he was leaving the part to go elsewhere. He did - but through WhatsApp so it didn't get to me until he got home 
. He got lost on the way home from his friend's house, but called me to get me to talk him through the route home.
But really, I have a big, big smile on my face - for him. My little boy, free-range. How fucking cool is that. I love him.
What has made you smile today?