Walking to Class

When Kris began kindergarten, I would have to walk her as far as the front door of the building. This lasted for about a month and then she braved the elements and walked by herself. HOWEVER, I couldn't drive away until she turned around and waved at me.

First grade rolled around and I walked her to her classroom for about a week. Then she announced that she was a big girl and could walk by herself. Again, I had to wait for the wave before I could drive away. The walk to the second grade classroom was only for the first day. And so that's how it went until she got to middle school. The wings of independence began to flutter when she began the sixth grade but I still had to wait until she turned and waved good-bye before cruising on down the road.

It was with mixed emotions when she began driving herself to school. What a convenience it was for both of us but I missed that little wave she used to give me. Now she is a freshman in college and starting all over in finding class rooms and getting into a routine. She calls me (voluntarily) every morning as she walks to the first class of the day. I can hear her shoes tapping along the sidewalk and the birds chirping along her route. We talk about the weather and what she had for breakfast and just girl stuff in general. And as she nears the door of the classroom, she tells me to have a great day and that she loves me. And I can just see her giving me that little wave that tells me that she's going to be all right.