We hit the ground running.

As soon as she woke me up on Mother’s Day, the treasure hunt she had made so much of an effort to organise the night before had well and truly begun: with a game of Hangman.

Three Words.

“Is there a C?” I guessed. The first common consonant that came to mind.

“Nope,” she replied, marking the letter down on the box specially reserved for the wrong alphabet attempts I make before the dead man diagram was completed.

It took a while to register. My brain was still asleep. And I’m not exactly a morning person.

By the time I guessed the phrase BREAKFAST IN BED, my excitement kicked in and then I was awake! I’ve never had breakfast in bed before.

“Turn the paper over to the other side,” she said.

I gotta give it to my girl, bruh. I was very impressed because not only was the game leading to the clue leading in to the next activity a genius, she prepared a full-on menu! With a choice of drinks! Slay!!!

For somebody who doesn’t eat breakfast, I was excited to eat it in bed!

That’s how we ended up sharing a bowl of weet-bix together. Me with the heart sunnies she instructed me to wear, as well as the most colourful dress I had in my closet: a vintage lace collar summer dress I wore over my pyjamas and under my dressing gown because the morning felt like winter but only I could feel it because I’m perpetually cold.

The next activity was a game of Sequence. Or two. Because I lost on both counts, overconfident in my skills while confidently assuming she was gonna go easy on me on account that it was Mother’s Day and all.

But, nope.

She was out to win! Used her One-Eyed Jack to take out my chips and annihilate my best-laid plans. I and my Two-Eyed Jacks couldn’t believe it.

Anyway, I was supposed to win first before I could move on to the next clue. But by the looks of it, I was a hopeless opponent so she decided to carry on with the hunt instead of waiting for a miracle.

The next activity was in the bathroom where she did my makeup. She started with my left eye brow but couldn’t be bothered to do the right. Rubbed the eyeshadow powder with the brush like it was getting the itch I had to remind her to tap! tap! tap! before she applied them on my lids. Last time we played this game, powder came pouring into my eye every time I blinked.

I had to pop a balloon in order to reveal the final clue. Inside was a note that would lead me to where the prize was. A method I might borrow for next year’s Easter treasure hunt.

The present and the handmade cards were in Jeff’s workshop. All of them lovingly laid out on the floor. She got me a makeup bag from her school’s Mother’s Day stall. Something she was really happy about, compared to last year’s when there weren’t really a lot of choices left by the time it was her turn to pick.

I am very proud of my daughter for pulling off the whole thing all by herself. She did such an amazing job!

I love you, Raven. Being your Mama is the best gig ever!

*Raven at 9 years old