Today was one of those little moments that brought tears to my eyes.
It made me realize that my daughter is growing up every day and that she won’t be my “little baby” forever.
This morning we were playing round and ended running late for school. When we got there the usual parking spots in front where I park were all taken. The buses were in the lane and I couldn’t go around back to park and walk her in.
My daughter asked me if she was going to be late. To which I replied “just a little late. We need to wait for the buses to move so I can pull around back.”
She looks at me and says “mom, if you just let me out, I can walk to class by myself.”
Of course my reaction to her was “no baby, just wait, I will walk you in.” She then says, “Mommy, I will be okay, my class right there and you can watch me from the car.” I hesitated but reluctantly got on the car and opened the door for her. She looks up at me and asks for her backpack. She then puts it on (which she never does. I usually end up carrying it in the school for her) and proceeds to walk to front door of the school. No hesitation and not looking back. She was confident and independent.
Of course my reaction to her was “no baby, just wait, I will walk you in.” She then says, “Mommy, I will be okay, my class right there and you can watch me from the car.” I hesitated but reluctantly got on the car and opened the door for her. She looks up at me and asks for her backpack. She then puts it on (which she never does. I usually end up carrying it in the school for her) and proceeds to walk to front door of the school. No hesitation and not looking back. She was confident and independent.
I yell out to her “I love you baby and see you later.” She turns back with this BIG smile on her face, waves and says “I love you too mommy.” She turns and walks in the building.
I got back in the car, with tears in my eyes, thinking…What Just Happened??!!! I have always brought her into daycare and school ever since I could remember. Now she can do this by herself. Yeah..not ready for this at all.
It’s funny sometimes, how we wish they would hurry up and grow up. But the fact is that we really don’t mean it. We know that as they grow up, we can’t protect them as easily. As we send them out the door into the world, we pray that the things we have instilled in them will remain, no matter the circumstances. That they will be their own person, they will make their own decisions and we pray that those decisions are the right decisions.
