(no subject)
Today was Raine's first day of preschool. We found a place that has a dance and gymnastics component, and given how much Raine loves dance, I feel like it will be a good fit--it is not my platonic ideal of preschool, but the thing about platonic ideals is that they are damned hard to find here on earth. It's a small class, and the teacher is super sweet (as most preschool teachers are) so it seems like a good way to transition out of the home. Raine has been very excited about going, and though she was a little shy when we dropped her off, she also made it clear that she wanted to stay at the preschool when I hugged her good-bye. I think she was a little worried that she would have to leave with us.
I feel really weird about it, sad and proud all at the same time. My beautiful baby forging her way in the world and being part of something that I'm not a part of. I've left her with sitters before, of course, and for the occasional play date, but this feels different somehow, perhaps because it feels more like setting her on a path that will, step by step, lead away from me. And mostly, that is all to the good. Part of being a parent is working yourself out of a job. Still, I feel a little sad thinking about how my little girl is growing-up.
I feel really weird about it, sad and proud all at the same time. My beautiful baby forging her way in the world and being part of something that I'm not a part of. I've left her with sitters before, of course, and for the occasional play date, but this feels different somehow, perhaps because it feels more like setting her on a path that will, step by step, lead away from me. And mostly, that is all to the good. Part of being a parent is working yourself out of a job. Still, I feel a little sad thinking about how my little girl is growing-up.