When your sister lives in Australia

My little sister moved to Australia in April 2016. I’ve missed her like crazy. It’s a funny thing when someone you’re so close to moves far, far away. Like, so far that you can’t simply pick up the phone and ring them to hear their voice. It’s been amazing to see her adventures and so lovely to know she’s happy and healthy and grabbing every moment out of life. But on the other, selfishly, it’s hard. It’s hard mainly because I miss her so much.

Anyway, last week she returned from the other side of the world for a visit back to the UK. It’s been wonderful.

Having not seen their aunt for such a long time, I wondered how the girls would react to her. Would they be shy? Would they remember her, even? We’ve talked about Lizzy lots since since she’s been away, and spoken on the phone and Skype as much as possible. But that’s not the same, is it? Within minutes of being reunited, though, it was like she’d never left.

They spread over her like a rash, drinking her in and clambering their little limbs all over her. It was “Aunty Lizzy” this and “Aunty Lizzy” that. I was a distant memory, discarded like an old sock in favour of their long-lost, fun and beautiful aunt. It was perfect.

When Frog first saw her aunt she was with her class, on her way back from a school sports activity on the field. We were in the park with Baby Girl and Frog spotted us from the back of the line of children, on the other side of the fence. She started to jump up and down waving, then couldn’t help herself, breaking free from the group and sprinting to give her aunt a huge cuddle through the fence. I’d have cried, if I hadn’t been busy trying to deal with a toddler tantrum over leaving the park.

My sister was there when Frog was born. She has been a huge part of Frog’s life all her life, and it was both a relief and a lovely thing to see that bond is no weaker after 15 months apart. At 4.30am on Friday morning Frog clambered into bed with my sister for a cuddle, before leaving her room and coming back into bed with me (she’d relegated her dad to the sofa, poor bloke). It’s these kind of sleepy cuddles and quiet moments that mesh together and burrow deep like the roots of a large tree, building a solid foundation for years to come.

My camera-shy sister indulged me and allowed me to make a little video of her first day with us. There’s also a weekend vlog to come over on my YouTube channel too, if you fancy watching.

Here’s our first day together, last Thursday. She’s with my parents’ now and having a well-earned rest after an intense few days of aunt-ing (which included taking the kids on a solo trip to soft-play – did I mention that I love her?!).