Hole in One

Delaney’s first day of preschool was the Mommy equivalent of a hole in one.

This was a day that had caused much (and by MUCH…..I mean a hell of a lot) of angst in my life.  Delaney’s history does not lend itself to an easy separation or an excitement about new things.  Well…sometimes she’s excited BEFORE anything happens, but rarely AS it happens.  Hence my nervous stomach, my inability to sleep last night and my worrisome mothering.

All made worse by the fact that Delaney seemed genuinely enthusiastic.  So, I kept waiting for it to register:  that she would begin this adventure by herself, all alone.  I wasn’t even allowed to walk her in.  We drive up to the school every day, her teacher opens the car door, gets her out and a ‘responsible’ 5th grader walks her to her class.  I had explained all of this to her many times, yet she still asked if I would hold her hand on the way in to school.  So, I explained again.

This is how our heavenly morning broke down:

Breakfast.

A few photo ops on the way out the door (no Coop isn’t on his way to school, yes, Delaney wanted to make him happy, so she put his backpack on him too.)

“Mommy, can I take a cat nap on the way to school?” (No she didn’t sleep, but she did keep asking all of us to be quiet.)

“No, Mommy, don’t unbuckle me….let my teacher do it.” (I think the angels were singing when she said this!)

She bounced out of her seat, kissed me goodbye, said, “I love you, Mommy.” And my little girl was off.

  It was this amazing moment when I realized she really and truly is growing up.  I thought I would cry.  I actually didn’t. (Jeff did) I was in such utter awe of her little independence, I could only stare and smile.  And she can’t wait to go back.  I don’t know what has changed.  I don’t know why she is more comfortable, but she is.  When she climbed into the car at the end of her day, she hugged me and yelped, “Mommy, I missed you soooo much.”  What more can a Mommy ask for?