This brought tears to my eyes...

I was just flicking through Charlie's French book and saw what he has been doing in class...

"J'ai un frére et une soeur qui s'appellent Will et Rosie."
("I have a brother and a sister called Will and Rosie.")

It might sound stupid and unbelievable, but for years and years I have wondered what Charlie would write about his siblings when he started learning a second language at secondary school.

I remember starting to learn French, and being taught how to say that I had two brothers and one sister when I was his age. I always wondered what he would say.

Before we had Rosie, I wondered if he would just say he was an only child.
When she was born, I wondered if he would just say he had a sister.
Then I wondered if I should teach him how to say: "I have a brother, but he died."

Though it has crossed my mind many times over the years, I've never actually spoken to him about it.

I needn't have worried. Will always has been, and always will be as real to Charlie as Rosie is.
No question about it.
Will may not be here with us, but he is most definitely still Charlie's big brother.

"J'ai un frére et une soeur qui s'appellent Will et Rosie."


How I love my children.
All three of them.