Here We 'Grow' Again

I know kids grow quickly. People tell me daily. I observe it for myself in my own child.

We've sailed through most of this growing up process.

No colic, sleeping through the night right on schedule--piece of cake. There was a little hesitancy in walking, but my girl is a cautious one and just took her time mastering that skill. We mired down in the murky waters, if you will, of potty training; but have gotten the hang of that as well. I'm coming to term with the fact that I put my child to bed one night and she was 3 months old and the next morning it seemed she'd turned into a 3 year old. I breezed through her first day of school with flying colors. No tears (on her part or mine.) Only enthusiastic excitement about school that continues to this day.

We've even signed her up for kindergarten and I am having only minor heart palpitations over it.

But I've finally encountered a milestone that has set me back on my heels. One from which I may never recover because once we pass through this, there will be no vestige left of the little girl I now have. I never imagined how six little words would knock me to my knees and leave me flabbergasted:

"Mommy! I have a loose tooth!"

I have braced myself for everything, even her leaving for college.

But I'm not ready for this.

Not at all.