Letter to Solly & Sam
Van Freedman, 9 September 05
Dear Solly and Sam
Your mum was a very special person and although we didn’t see each other that often, when we did we always had great chats and a good giggle about the similarities between ‘our boys’.
Solly, you and Jamie are both pretty active, boisterous and fun little boys. And Sam, you and Benji are calm, smiley babies who happily watch and adore their older brothers perform!
Solly, whenever you and Jamie were together we knew that you would get into some mischief together, and we would laugh about that. Your mum was always more chilled out than me and when we came over one Sunday in summer 2004 and you were both running around with screwdrivers, and my social work instinct was to STOP!!! Your mum just told me not to worry, so I took her advice, relaxed, and you both had a lovely afternoon playing builders (with no injuries)! Birthday parties with you both were also fun, you and Jamie she would say were an ‘entertainers dream’.
Sam, when you were just a few weeks old, as was Benji, your mum, always an inspiration and with extraordinary energy decided to to a postnatal exercise class!! Well, she managed to encourage me to join her, with the idea that we would have lunch with you and Benji in a different café in Finchley every week. Sam, you and Benji sat in you car seats next to each other, and about ten other six week old babies, for an hour and half every week for six weeks napping and watching your mum and I doing some very embarrassing exercises and prancing around a hall. Your mum was so proud of you as not once did you cry out, but would be happily chilling to the music. Obviously a family trait! We did manage to do several cafes over the weeks, and you and Benji would nap, have your milk and smile, as we would chat away about ‘our boys’. Your mum was already unknowingly unwell at this point and how she found the energy to be so active is a constant inspiration to me.
As with everyone who knew your mum, I cannot describe strongly enough
what a caring, loving and warm mum and friend she was. She really was
very special and you will both always carry her beautiful
characteristics through life with you.
I hope that these small memories will help you make some sense of your early days with your mum.
Lots of love and hugs
Van Freedman