first day of kindergarten, 2014
I take my baby girl to school every afternoon and she always smiles and waves, then a few steps later turns, waves and blows me a kiss.
Except yesterday she didn't look back.
I cried.
My eyes stung as I left the school. It was the first day I've cried at dropoff since the first day of school. I was proud of her for growing up but sad that the days since the first day to this day were a blur.
What had we done in that amount of time? Like a leaky faucet they just dripped and dripped into a gallon of days and weeks and months.
But today she DID.
Today I dropped her off and didn't expect the look or the second look or the kiss, but she did it. And I figured out that nothing is the end, not really. Even when a phase passes or a door is closed, something remains. We need our parents even when we're grown. Things change but rarely go away completely.
I also learned to cherish each day. Each one, since I don't know when the last will be.
She might need smile-wave-kiss routine less now, but from time to time she will and that's great. I'll be here for her as long or as infrequently as she wants it. I love her. I love being a mom. I am so glad for the chance and for every day of the smile-wave-kiss.
