She's a dancer!

The sun is setting. The kids are snuggled in and quickly falling asleep. I am reflecting on a day that has long-been at the top of my "Days I Dread of Parenthood." But as I reflect on the past 12 hours, I am amazed at our daughter's strength, somewhat embarassed at my lack of faith in her, thankful for a God who listens to each and every one of our prayers, and overflowing with love for this little person God chose for our family!

Our day started bright and early (well, it was actually still dark). She woke up eager to start the adventure. Elementary schools here start at 7:40 and High School starts later. That means her bus picks her up at 6:45AM. MANY people transport their kids. We decided dropping her off in the morning would be better for us...she gets her sleeping habits from her daddy. She was very excited to carry her new "Tinkerbell" backpack from Boppa and Bammy and her "froggy" lunchbox. It was all smiles and giggles this morning.

Another difference in the South is that parents are welcome to bring their child into the classroom. I was floored! It was a Z-O-O in the main office as each parent had to sign in as a guest, and get a visitor sticker. Kinda hard to tell your kid you aren't doing it when she sees EVERY other parent doing it. I was able to *amazingly* find a parking spot and walk her into school.

Her class is the "BEAR" class. Some of you can imagine the calm that came over my heart when I walked in the room for Open House only to realize that her teacher collects and displays..."BOYD'S BEARS!!" It humbled me. I have been praying very specific prayers for the teacher Paige would be placed with. I chose not to request one, and accepted that she would be placed where she was meant to be. I chuckled when I saw her collection and realized it was a small way for God to reassure me that HE had it all under control! Can you see her smile in the above picture? When she begins to get anxious, she gets this "fake" smile where she bites her lip and forces the happy face. She is actually TERRIFIED!!! But she did SO well! We walked right in and found her seat and within 10 seconds (and only one plea for me to not leave), she got to work...

All reports have been positive. She came out with a smile today and has had nothing negative to share. Most days she will ride the bus home, but she requested that I pick her up today...along with EVERY OTHER PARENT in the school. What a joke! I sat in my car in a line for over an hour. By the time she got home classes had been dismissed for over an hour. Tomorrow...she'll be riding the bus!

I know I am not alone in my anxiety, fear, sadness and pride of today. I'm quite certain that every mother experiences the emotions, in many different forms. It's that constant tug of parenting...prepare them for life, shelter them from the pain of the world, be there to comfort them when they fail or are hurt by others, force them to take a baby step in that huge world and trust and hope you have done enough to prepare them and they are ready. Our job is no where near done. In many ways I see all these "big" steps as minor when I look into the future of steps we will need to help her take. I'm glad God gives them to us little and helps us to ease into it slowly.

Today was a major success! She is very excited to go back and seems quite proud of her accomplishment. The transition will take much longer for me to be excited about, but I am thankful it was a good day and slightly less emotional at the prospect of doing it all over again tomorrow. Today is now in the history book of our family as one of the "Most Memorable Days of Parenting." I love when God changes my perspective!