I don't consider myself to be an overly dramatic parent. I've tried to take each milestone that my children have reached in stride and haven't gotten {too} worked up as they've grown from infants to toddlers to kids. They get older - I get older - it's the circle of life.
Until now.
Now it's all drama all the time. I am literally on the verge of tears at any moment. I am flipping through baby pictures and have the video of Autumn's first steps on a loop because - my friends - we have KINDERGARTEN orientation a week from today.
I know, I can't believe it either. Five years ago she was this little blob of baby that depended on us for every little thing. Now, she is a little girl ready to introduce herself to the world - or at least the world of kindergarten.
And I am a Mama who wants nothing more than to keep her in the safe little bubble I have strategically created for her - but that's not real life, is it?
She has to grow {remember that "circle of life" crap I mentioned above}, she has to learn, she has to meet new people and make new friends. She has to get her feelings hurt and learn what it is to forgive. She has to hurt someone's feelings and learn what it is to ask for forgiveness. She has to learn to start navigating this world without us two steps behind.
Wow - is it ever hard to let go.
All I can think about is how huge that school is and how little my girl is. How she has been in the same school, with the same teachers and {for the most part} the same kids for three years and now I am getting ready to drop her in the middle of an ocean of people that she doesn't know in a place that she doesn't recognize - with a hug and a kiss and a "have a good day!"
I am afraid she is going to get lost in the shuffle. I am afraid she is going to have a hard time making friends. I am afraid that - even with all of the preschooling she has had - she isn't prepared. I know that the days when I can protect her from this world are numbered - and that terrifies me.
Like a lot of kids, mine watch movies in the car and their current favorite is Finding Nemo. As we were driving home the other day, passing what will be Autumn's elementary school, I could hear Marlin and Dory having a conversation from the backseat.
"I promised I'd never let anything happen to him."
"Hmmm. That's a funny thing to promise."
"What?"
"Well, you can't never let anything happen to him.
Then nothing would ever happen to him."
Duly noted Dory.
