snapshots: a photograph (or several) and an isolated observation (or several) about the past week (or so)

It was the little things.

I started noticing the way Aliza says good morning to every single person in the grocery store.

How she asks to see people by name, Asho an Bitney? Dawn an Juweya? Tetya Kewie?

How she goes off to play on her own at playdates when just a few months ago she clung to me and burst into tears if I so much as went to the bathroom without her.

I noticed things in myself, feeling like an hour or two to myself wasn’t enough anymore to re-charge and to be fully present for her all day. I was losing my temper, losing my sense of self, not being the best parent I could be.

So I listened to what she seemed to be saying to me…I’m ready to move on, are you ready to let me mom?

I made a phone call and put her on a wait list for a place I adored. A wonderful place with caring staff, a lovely environment, philosophies that align with our personal ones.

After several weeks of observations, and forms, a test run and getting her new backpack packed and re-packed…

She started “school” last week.

We are both boldly going where we have not gone before.

Wish us luck on the journey.