As Chris carried Millie up the stairs tonight, hot tears streamed down my face. My early baby, my special girl, starts Kindergarten tomorrow. Where has the time gone?
I remember sleep training Millie. Chris would carry her upstairs and her little hand would reach over his shoulder to wave at me. I’d say, “I love you, Mill Moo. Jesus loves you, angel.” One night, when Millie was maybe eighteen months old, Chris said, “Alright, it’s time for bed.” Mill was sitting on my lap and she waved at him as if to say, “Well, goodnight then daddy.” My sweet, sassy girl.
After church, I dressed Millie up in uniform and took pictures of her with a “back to school” sign displaying her age, height, and what she wants to be when she grows up – a ballerina, of course. (I figured it would make for a less stressful morning if we took pictures ahead of time.) Mill said her polo sleeves made her look like a prince and that the uniform should have included pink and purple. When I showed her the pictures I took of her, her response was, “I look so tall!”
We read, “On the Night Before Kindergarten”. I packed her a heart-shaped, butter and jelly sandwich (her school is nut free), carrots, strawberries, and Oreos in her Barbie lunchbox. She requested a chocolate chip granola bar for her mid-morning snack (and ended up eating Pringles instead).
Me, “Are you excited for tomorrow?” Mill, “I’m most excited about the tablet. I can’t wait to read the books on the internet.”
Me, “Do you think you’ll nap during quiet time?” Mill, “Maybe I’ll rest my eyes a little bit.”
Me, “Are you worried about anything?” Mill, “You know I’m brave. I’m not nervous.”
Millie woke up before the alarm and climbed into our bed. She said, “Today’s the day, it’s finally here!” We said affirmations in the mirror while I curled her hair. She ate French toast sticks for breakfast while Chris and Wells kicked the soccer ball in the kitchen. We all piled up in the car to take her to school as a family.
As she walked into the school, she stopped to wave back at us and show the I love you sign. I watched until her koala backpack had long gone into the building.
I asked Mill when she got home, “How was your day?” She said, “Kindergarten is the best!”
Mothering Millie 