First Day of School....First Day of School!

From the minute I woke up this morning the little Nemo chant of "first day of school, first day of school" was running through my head!
Looking at G sitting on the couch as I stumbled out of the bedroom she somehow seemed older. She smiled at me and gave me a cheery "good morning mom!" with her little toothless grin and it hit me that I actually have a little girl in kindergarten now. The whole time I've been a parent I've stood there with my mouth open wondering how these girls grew up so fast? I don't know what I thought she would be doing at this age, but for some reason it revolved around her still sitting on a blanket in the middle of her bedroom while I made gooney faces at her trying to make her smile. But instead we're having discussions about reading and teachers and the fact that other kids would have Sharpay and Ryan backpacks and hers just had hearts.
For years I've told her that I don't want her to grow up, and for years her all to mature reply has been "but mom I have to?"
I am proud to say I didn't shed a tear today, nor did I grasp her to me shouting "WHY WHYYYYYYYYYY" as she struggled to break free for the door to her classroom. Instead we walked side by side as I watched her spot a preschool buddy and run happily to the little girls side as the two chatted about what their teacher and class would be like. I watched her hang up her backpack and march to the teacher aide with her first day of school homework to turn in. I watched her explore the room and plop an explorer hat on her head while she tried out a pair of binoculars from the "dramatic play center" and then I watched her sit down to a computer, oblivous to the fact that I was still there as she fired it up and asked where the mouse was so she could launch into a game of Magic School Bus. And then I told her goodbye and walked back to my car with a smile.
It's only now that I get a little teary eyed as I recount the day, and I realize she is right....she does have to grow up :)
I love you G