Tuesday is coming too fast...

I swear I must have the emotions of a woman sometimes.  I'm sure I get it from my mom - she once started crying when a preview for a "Black Beauty" movie came on TV.  And at our wedding, Beth was the one that was just fine, and I was the one who was trying to hold it together and not cry.  How backwards is that?! Anyway, last night Beth & I went to the parent orientation for Anna's preschool.  We got to meet her teacher, look at the classroom, see her name on the bulletin boards with all the other kids' names, hear about all the fun things they plan to do…

To my dismay, I found myself starting to choke up a little when the director was telling us that they'll be just fine, but maybe we want to stick in their backpack their favorite toy (kitty & blankets for Anna) or a picture of you and their siblings in case they get scared, a change of clothes in case they have an accident while playing too hard, and bring a picture to put above the hook where they will hang their jacket & backpack…

I don't remember much of anything about preschool other than it was in a church next to the public library, and that I was really scared when mom would leave me there.  Why was I choking up now?  Because I don't want Anna to be scared?  It's really ridiculous - I'm going to be working all day anyway - her preschool is from noon to 3, so I'm not even taking her there, or picking her up… I'm still working, so nothing really changes in my day, and it's preschool, for pete's sake - it's not even kindergarten yet!  So what in the world makes me sad about it?

My best guess is that it's because this is my baby girl's very first tiny step out into the real world, the first of many more to come.  I'm excited for her and know she'll love it, but at the same time I don't want her to take any more steps. Hard as I might try, I can't freeze her in time and keep her as my baby girl forever. She starts preschool Tuesday.