To my Teenage Daughter br br You will not leave me yet, you need my love br protecting you to help you understand the br need to see the world a place of joyousness – br to learn perception and rejoice each challenge br camouflaged as obstacles omnipresent br br I’m glad you’ll still be home with us a few more br years and not be forced to live alone, I love the br prospect of your mock sarcastic voice reminding br me of who I am, your room a mess without respite, br your vexed entanglement in gauche imbroglios br br It’s fun to help you sort the mess and solve an br ambiguity or two at least of life, so worry less when br faced with sore mistakes, it glamorises and excites br my little life – I thank you much for that my br lovely, wayward child!br br Margaret Alicebr br