A Sad Day

Yesterday became the day that I'd been dreading for quite a while. Yesteday Emma, my oldest, moved up to the toddler room. I cried. I felt like a mom who'd just sent her firstborn off to college. I'd had Emma since before she could sit up. I watched her learn to sit up, crawl, walk, eat table food, and even say a couple of words. Now she's gone. My baby!!!!

Of course, my head knows that this change is best for Emma. She's almost 16 months old and she was ready to move to a more challenging class. In the infant room she was bored, and why not? She's played with every toy in that room a thousand times over. Adam, the other walker in my class, is old hat to Emma, too. Emma is very bright and curious and needed to experience new things and people. I checked on her before I went to lunch and she was sitting at the table eating her chicken nuggets like a big girl! No more high chairs for Emma! I was quite proud of her, but I was sad also.

I miss my baby. This morning when I took Adam and Jessa outside it just didn't feel right not having Emma with us. Adam had to play by himself (Jessa was in her carrier; she's just 3 months old). I think he was a little out of sorts, too. He seemed to sense that something wasn't quite like it used to be. He's my oldest now and I think he was adjusting to not having to submit to Emma. :)

Seriously, though, I believe that Adam really does miss Emma. And I think that Maya, now my second oldest, misses her, too. They, and I, have to adjust to their new positions in the class. And to shake things up even more, I'll be getting a 6-week-old baby this coming Monday. Talk about change!

Yes, everything changes. Children grow up; that's what they're supposed to do. We adults who love and care for them are to give them not just roots, but also wings. It hurts, though, when they fly away. Even if you're not their actual parent. As a caregiver, I spend more time with my babies than their parents do, so it should hurt to "lose" one of them. But I'm also proud of how Emma has adjusted to her new room. It just shows that I raised her right.

I LOVE YOU, EMMA!!!!!!!!!