I’ve been fine this year – really. Even when her little pre-k class had their ‘graduation’ ceremony and she got a little diploma. Even when some of her friends left the daycare to do other summer things. Even when all of the other parents talked about the long list of school supplies that they picked up for like 20 cents already and have book-bags packed & sitting in hall closets ready to go. I’ve been fine. Until today.

Maybe it’s because August 1st is only days away and that’s just much too close to September 1st which is the day before her first day of school. Or because I ordered the most perfect messenger bag yesterday, embroidered with her name and complete with matching lunch bag, #2 pencils and pencil case. Perhaps it’s the panic of not having an alternate daycare lined up for the seemingly hundreds of days off she’ll have between now and next June. Or the 14 – count them - 14 hugs & kisses she gave me this morning as I dropped her off at daycare.

But today it hit me. My little baby girl will be taking a huge yellow school bus soon to a place that we don’t know every nook & cranny of, where the teachers are unfamiliar, the kids unknown and the dangers yet to be explored. She’s totally stoked about this of course.  I want to put a diaper back on her, put her back in the nursery, turn on the light-up aquarium & call it a day.

I know I’ll be fine – but today I sit here blubbering away the same way I did when I realized I had to go back to work three months after having her. 

Maybe I’ll check out the sales at Old Navy – shopping therapy does make me feel better…  

My life as it stands today? Salty & Sweet