When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was five I said to my mum when I grow up I want to be a lollipop lady.

I saw a lot of lollipop ladies as I walked to and from school each day. Not only did I love the bright yellow uniform and the hat. But I also loved how they had the power to stop traffic.

Lollipop ladies just walk out into the road put down their lollipop stick and stick up a hand and the cars stop for them.

I thought that was cool.

But the main reason I wanted to be a lollipop lady was because they were always smiling. They always greeted me with a smile and a good morning or the question, ‘Good day at school?’

Lollipop ladies not only looked like they were enjoying their job but they were also sharing that joy with others, even if only for the little time it took for me to walk across the road in front of them with the cars at bay.

They were smiling.

So I wanted to be a lollipop lady when I was five and I told my mum. My mum said I couldn’t be a lollipop lady. No, she said. Maybe when you retire but not until then. You can be anything you want to be Sheree, she said. Save being a lollipop lady until you retire.

I better start filling out my application then as I’m getting old (er).