A Long Drive

Does this mantra sound familiar?

"No, Mommy!  I can do it myself".

Every time I hear it it makes me a little sad but a little relieved as Emmy does more and more on her own.

She WANTS to dress herself, choose her clothes, spread the butter on her toast, get her own yogurt out of the fridge, and even climb into the car by herself.

In my head I am saying "you go, girl".  It makes it a little easier on mom when they CAN do these things on their own.

But what about the night when she says "no" to our nightly bedtime ritual?

Jammie time, monster hugs (or dinosaur hugs or just plain hugs depending on our moods) and kisses, a bedtime story being read, and I love you's being said.  It hasn't wavered since she was an infant. 

I can picture it now.  I will be the one with the pout on my face as it feels as though my heart is being squeezed by her little hands. 

When will she be to big for bye-bye hugs when I drop her off at grammy's or at preschool?


As I was driving home from delivering her fundraiser to family I was thinking about how Emmy is growing (her sister to) and becoming more and more independent. 

They are going to continue cutting that cord day by day.  It is like a rope fraying over time.  But does it ever really get cut all the way?  Even when they are grown?

I'm still a new mom by mom standards-my kids are far from grown.  Does it ever really feel as though that cord is cut?  I never thought to ask my mom.  I need to ask her. 

I always think of these things when I am driving.  I remember asking my mom lots of questions-usually in the car on the way to one place or another-about life, love, or anything else on my mind.  I can still remember driving in the car one night and asking her about how she met my dad and how she knew he was the one.

Next time I see her I'll have to ask her.  It will probably be on a ride somewhere.  I wonder what her response will be?  Because will it be what I want to hear?