My Preschooler

For months, crisp paper and smooth boxes of crayons have been flowing out of stores and into backpacks seemingly too large for little shoulders.

For the first time, I shopped for supplies with a list I hadn't created, grabbing glue sticks and thin palettes of watercolors without knowing the projects for which they would be used.

We tried on backpacks and shoes with velcro that could withstand both a playground and Abbey's staunch opinions.

Impossibly bright blue eyes sparkled at the smallest mention of school.

Older, brown eyes filled with tears at odd moments, unsure whether our discussions about school were preparing her or me for this change in our lives.

She awoke in the morning, surprisingly cooperative, eager to leave the house without stalling or hesitation.

My fingers shook as I fastened her beloved kitty necklace around her neck, gently lifting her hair through the thin chain.  Smiling, I kissed the cat charm, telling her my kiss would be with her all day.

All four of us went to her classroom, carefully hanging her bag on a hook, placing her new water bottle into her plastic cubby.  Bravely, she donned a name tag and quietly said hello, giddy excitement replaced by reserved anticipation.

Deliberately, I pushed aside my own concerns, my own uncertainty and focused on this first little step into a new world, just waiting to be discovered.  

She will be amazing, my magical, lovely girl.

two kids

too early

too bright of a flash

she's got the senior picture pose down already

my girl and me

with Daddy

Dylan cared more about the rocks than the camera

flashback to my first day of school