Amazing kids are the best teachers

This is the first in a week-long series of letters from Perth mothers to their children

Claire Caldow’s son Archie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer in March 2012 and the then three- year-old had gruelling treatment to save his life.

Two months ago, she and husband Richard waited nervously as scans confirmed he was 18 months in remission.

Ahead of Mother’s Day, she writes a letter to Archie, now 6, Olivia, 15, Charlie, 13, and Remi, 11.

To my beautiful children,

When I was a child the only thing I truly knew about myself was that I wanted to be a mum. An amazing one, I imagined.

With a complicated childhood, I could not wait to grow up and be the mother I never had.

Though I'm sure there are still some things I could teach you, I have found myself over the past few years learning more about life from you, rather than the other way around. You have shown me you already possess many of the characteristics and beliefs I had hoped to model for you as your mum.

You have all been through much more than most children your age and it is during this time you have shone with resilience, patience, love and understanding.

When you, Archie, were unwell in hospital and we needed you other three to put his needs before your own, it seemed easy and natural for you.

I watched you put people you love before yourself, an attribute that many people never learn.

You have shown patience well beyond your years. More often than not, you would have to wait for your needs to be met by me because I was in the hospital and not with you at home.

We all missed each other well beyond belief but you were grateful to have FaceTime instead of real time.

You understood your brother needed me to survive and you needed him to survive, too.

Unfortunately you have also learnt way too early that loving someone can hurt. But it is so much better than closing yourself off for fear of being hurt.

Together we realised that looking after someone, loving someone and doing chores with love is the greatest gift in the world.

If one day they were no longer there, we would give anything to be the person making them toast or folding their socks again.

You especially, Archie, have impressed me no end with your courage and bravery. Your trust and intuition. Your ability to laugh and enjoy humour when things around you weren't actually that funny.

You have taught me that trouble doesn't always last and that whatever you believe has more power than what you dream, wish or hope for.

So when I say to you all, "When I grow up I want to be just like you", I mean it. I have learnt so much from you and though I had hoped to be the one with all the wisdom and comfort to share, you have done that for me instead.

I may or may not be an amazing mother, but I am definitely the mother of four amazing children. You are more than I could have wished for and I often wonder . . . out of all the 15-year-olds, 13-year-olds, 11-year-olds and six-year-olds, how did I get the best ones?

Love, Mum x

PS: Don't forget. You have two ears and only one mouth. Learn to listen twice as much as you speak. You'll be amazed at what you learn.