Things are changing....

We are getting ready for Kindergarten around here...little C is ready to go to a "big" school and I am quietly coaching myself through the process of letting go a little. I have a hard time thinking about my baby being away from me for 8 hours a day, in others' care, around lots of (great folks I'm sure) but frankly, strangers to me. I wanted to be brave and "together" through this process but instead, when I think about it, my heart jumps into my throat and I want to cry! I need to get a grip.

We went to Potterybarn Kids the other day and I let him choose a backpack. Normally I keep the choices carefully paired down but this time I only had one rule. "No faces please." In other words, I am not buying a backpack with Darth Vader on it. Is that bad?! He's only 6! I'm just not that into you, Darth Vader. As I figured, his choice and my choice were a little off. I loved the navy and red nautical stripe (I even told him he could put the scary pirate patch on it!) and while he did point out the Darth Vader one, he chose blue skateboard camo.

I guess it could've been worse -- for some reason PBK put snakes and spiders on many of the backpacks this year (gee thanks!). What's next, a machete and a Budlight? How about a soccer ball or some cars and trucks?

Yesterday, on our way home from school, he says, "Mom, I don't want to wear these CUTE shirts anymore." Oh no, my heart is sinking.

"Well, what do you want to wear?" I say.

"COOL shirts", he replies. "My friend had on a shirt with a giant squid wrapped around a building."

Oh dear. I'm just not that into giant squids wrapped around buildings... I'm carefully choosing my wording these days and have eliminated 'cute' from my vocabulary. I'm hoping I can still sneak in a few *cool, awesome, manly* appliques without too much opposition. We shall see:)

In the meantime, let me also say I'm counting blessings. I'm thankful they are healthy, happy, and spunky with their little opinions. I'm thankful for these conversations we have together, because I still see them as the teeny tiny little babies I brought home from the hospital (and I remember dreaming of the days we'd have conversations and they could tell me what they want!). But they grow up way too fast y'all.