He ran into the room, his heart pounding, and his clothes soaking wet.

"Mummy, Mummy!" he yelled, his face flushed and eyes gleaming with excitement.

"What is it, sweetheart?" I asked, my heart in my mouth, fearing the worst.

Surely nothing terrible had happened in those few short minutes since I'd turned my back and left him to his own devices?

Unconsciously scanning his body for weeping wounds, gaping gashes or odd shaped bones like a Men in Black zapper I began to relax.

"What's happened now?" I said, smiling at my golden child.

"Mummy, I rode up the hill for the first and changed gears on my bike, for the first time!"

"Well done, you!" I said, marvelling as another milestone passed.