Memory Monday: Mommy Daughter Date With LuLu

Two weeks ago Lulu began VPK which is the Florida equivalent of preschool.  Her hair was pulled up in a braided ponytail per her request.  Her uniform t-shirt smelled strongly of the school logo's embossing and her brand new, pink and green L.L. Bean backpack looked as though if it were left unzipped it might just swallow her up. 




I was a bit surprised by how emotional I was.  After all, I had already done this twice...I should be a pro by now.  Maybe it was because she seemed so young.  And, well, that's because she is.  Sunshine and Bunny both began school a year later.  However, this is a GREAT opportunity for her (and for her older sisters who are currently home schooled).

Young enough to still enjoy restaurant play places without worrying about the vast possibilities for contracting communicable illnesses.

We walk to the private Catholic school right around the corner.  We talk, we laugh and sometimes we race. If we're lucky, we get to hear the church bells chime.  The other day, while walking home after dropping her off, I heard "All Things Bright and Beautiful".  As I walked through our neighborhood, under trees dripping with Spanish Moss and butterflies fluttering about, I found it quite inspiring. And then a swarm of approximately 1,367 mosquitoes swarmed around me, looking for a snack.  No way do those nasty little vampires fall under the category of bright or beautiful.

Today I took Lulu on a date because I'm getting the sense that while she really enjoys her 3 hour preschool class, the time away from her family has been a little hard on her.  Perhaps some one on one Mom Time would do the trick.  We went shoe shopping and talked.  We laughed at how funny singing a song using only one particular vowel was and reviewed our most favorite thing.  (She still loves homemade macaroni and cheese, olives and OPI Pompeii Purple nail polish).

Old enough to savor the taste of ice cream

As we noshed on our french fries and she dipped them in her ice cream, I couldn't help but notice that she's still so little but changing fast.  She's learning new things and meeting new exciting people.  She's almost ready to read but could really use an afternoon nap.  Yet I found myself reminiscent of when we discovered her pending arrival into our family.  He-Man wasn't even in the state when he proved his mad skills of procreation and I discovered I was pregnant with the baby we were waiting until after grad school to have.  I'm so glad she came when she did!

Young enough to ask "Can I eat the holder?"

I also realized something else.  Since we are absolutely not done contributing to the Scottish/Portuguese/German Mutt population of the world, she is destined to be smack dab in the middle of our children.  Obviously, we'll need to keep an awareness about this dynamic.  Yet, she can hold her own and make her feelings known in an articulate way and is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

So my Memory Monday for this September 5th has been devoted to the little girl who, when her older sisters shrink in horror at a nasty eight legged freak, she pummels it with a glittery handbag...the girl who biffs it on the sidewalk and instead of crying as the blood oozes out of her knees, stands up, dusts herself off and takes off running in the direction she was heading in the first place.  She's the girl who will get in your face and tell you what's what at a volume and pitch that can make stray dogs howl but then will softly take your face in her stinky, dirty hands and with sweet, sparkly eyes exclaim just how much she loves you...and believe me, it's A LOT.

Old enough to appreciate exquisite ballroom attire 

yet young enough turn in early.

This memory isn't so much recalling one that has already happened but rather one I hope I never, ever forget.