Sharing

The tears finally came at kindergarten drop off this morning. They were mine. After a bustling first week of school the reality set in.

As we ascended the steps to Audrey's classroom I relived the few short minutes I'd had with my young beautiful girl this morning. Her sweet, sleepy smile when I pulled back her curtains and turned on a lullaby from her Cinderella soundtrack. Her request for "high" pigtails and flower ribbons and kneesocks. Her warm, sticky kiss after a breakfast of waffles and syrup.

We tightly held hands as we do each morning. As we went up the stairs she asked me what I'd be doing today. I have to read some emails I told her. "I can read quietly next to you," she said. I'd like to get a quick walk in I added. "I love when we go on our walks." I told her I'd be going quickly and would have my iPod on listening to a church sermon that I missed. "I will go in the stroller and bring a snack and a book and I promise I wouldn't bother you", she said. I'll probably grab lunch while I work I continued. "I could do an activity book and we could have tea and cottage cheese together," she said.

After popping her lunchbox in her locker she took a book from the corner of the room and sat in her seat. I gave her a long hug goodbye. She blew me a kiss through the window and I continued to watch her for a moment. Her face showed concern and then I saw her approach a boy sitting in the corner. He was crying. Audrey asked him something and then nodded and walked away. She went back to him a moment later and just sat by him.

I know she would be a wonderful companion to me today--to read with, walk with, and eat with but I believe God wants us to share our gifts with others so I turned and left and for a few more hours gave Audrey to the world.

Mama Bear

"You're hovering. They're doing great~let's go." Carrie said to me last evening as we dropped the kids off at an overnight swim and gymnastics party at the local academy.

Audrey had been in a fabulous dance recital earlier in the day and did not get to bed until nearly midnite the night before since we went to dinner and hung out with friends.

Plus, neither of my girls swim much so they are not too experienced which was causing me some concern.

AND Audrey is still only 4 and the youngest camper (although she did attend the same swim/gymnastics overnighter last year at age 3 and lived to tell about it!)

The lack of sleep, lack of swimming skills, and the fact that Eric was out of town and I would be all alone in the house in the middle of the night apparently was causing me to "hover." Unnecessarily.

A relaxing time with a couple of girlfriends enjoying apps and yummy cocktails occupied several hours of the evening. It wasn't until 2 a.m. that I fell into bed and slept poorly for just 5 hours before pick-up.

My girls were still asleep when I arrived this morning. The camp counselor gave me the skinny on how the night went--Audrey cried after swimming as she wanted me and was starving. After the pizza party she got better until it was time for movies (midnight!) and she was upset again. Thankfully, she fell fast asleep just moments into Ratatouille but did wake crying in the middle of the night and required a soothing back pat to ease her back to sleep (I have already bought the Starbucks thank you card for that dear counselor!) Liv proudly announced that she watched BOTH movies and went to bed around 4 a.m. oof.

Clearly, naps were on the horizon. After shutting off the phones, locking Frib in our bedroom and allowing the girls to choose where they'd slumber they finally slept.

An hour later Liv was up and at 'em. With a clearer, more refreshed mind I asked her about the night- what her favorite part was (she won the hula hoop contest so that was top on her list) how all of her friends got along (some of them were growing tired and grumpy, she said. "But, I understand.")how the swimming went (I had to stay in the "safe" area and I wanted to go in the deep end.) So I asked her about lessons and if she wanted to spend more time at the pool learning to swim. "Mom, NO, I don't want to talk about it."

"Shall we grab lunch and then go out and paint rocks or play a game?" I asked her changing the subject.

"Mom, NO. Leave me alone."

I then heard Carrie's practical, honest truth she spoke to me the night before, "You're hovering".

So off I went to the kitchen to make lunch. Moments later Liv happily bound into the kitchen chatting me up about the great game of "Swim Fishy Swim" she'd played the night before. My little cub was out of hibernation once I backed off...one more parenthood lesson learned.