Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Tuesday 10 July 2012

A brief history of time

It's fourteen years since my eldest son was born.

Yes, he's changed, he's grown, he's now very much a teenager. But something about Mateo is immutable. I have often said he's like a stick of rock, through the middle of which runs the word 'Mateo' - because that is who he is and who he will always be.

As a child, he was fascinated by natural history, by animals both living and extinct. He loved stars and space and the unknown. He still does.

Despite being a whizzy about sort of child, he had the ability to watch and concentrate on the things he liked for long stretches at a time. And whilst he no longer chooses to whizz much these days, he can lose himself in a book, an idea or a project he's working on for hours, even days on end.



We celebrated quietly today as the plan was to go to the Science Park in Granada - except it's closed on Mondays. We're going tomorrow. Mateo will move through the exhibitions identifying things he didn't already know - I am hoping there will be some things still left for him to be fascinated by!

So today, we opened a few presents and ate cake.

Yes, Mateo wanted some weights

What you can't quite see is a jar of black gold - Marmite!

And a very  big cake...

Just behind Mateo's head is a little collage of photos of when he was a baby. I have been hunting high and low for a photo I know we have of him when he was less than a year old. He had a habit of taking every book off one of our bookcases and always, always picked out the same one, once got all the books on the floor infront of him.Agreed, he only chewed it a bit - he didn't read particularly early - but the book?



Every time!


14 comments:

  1. Hi Annie,

    What a lovely family you have. It's great to see you all together celebrating.

    As a scientist I would say that this world can't ever have too many humane scientists!

    Keep up the good work Mateo, and most of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Enjoy the museum.

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    1. Thank you Gaynor! We've just returned from a brilliant day, more later. And, yes, I do hope Mateo continues and becomes a humane scientist. Axxx

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  2. I guess science was always going to be his thing, cutting his teeth so to speak on this. I can't believe it is 14 years since he was born, happy birthday Mateo, and congratulations Annie on the job so far. Jxxx

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    1. Excellently put, Janice. And yes, 14 years have passed and at times, it seems like just a few moments, but at others, when I look back it seems a whole lifetime (which of course it is for Mateo) - thank you. Axxx

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  3. Lovely happy family pictures Annie and birthday greetings to Mateo.
    Celia x

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    1. Thanks Celia - I think Mateo will agree he's had a good birthday this year. And we've all enjoyed it with him. Axxx

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  4. Happy Birthday Mateo :D

    Great post Annie - I have a Tom who I'm sure is written through like a stick of rock! - and that last picture is perfection, right down to the knitted sweater ;D

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    1. Thanks, Annie. SO glad you noticed the jumper - it was one of my favourites and made of a lovely, silky alpaca mix. Axxx

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  5. Happy belated birthday, Mateo! I can read a mother's love and respect for her son and the unique individual she has raised for fourteen years now. My eldest, Héloïse, is sixteen now and I can relate to this post of yours enormously.

    Stephanie

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    1. Thank you, Stephanie. We all feel our children are unique - and they are - and hope they will retain that special quality all their lives. What a beautiful name your daughter has too! Axxx

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  6. Wishing Mateo a belated Happy Birthday! Hope he has a great time at the Science Park.
    Amazing about the book! Looks like his interest in the natural world was already written in the stars at that tender age!
    So glad you found my blog again as now I've found yours!
    Gill xx

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    1. Thank you Gill! We had a wonderful day - and as Janice pointed out, rather cleverly, he cut his teeth on science - and so it continues. Must try and get you on my blogroll now. Axxx

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  7. Belated birthday greeting to Mateo, Annie. It's a very long time since either of mine turned 14, but I can still relate very strongly to this post and the way birthdays brought back memories of the younger child each had been as well as wondering what they would become.

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    1. Thank you Perpetua - you've been having a marathon reading session I see - hope you find time for your own blog soon. In the meantime, it's just lovely to read your comments here again. Axxx

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