Growing Up

I figured that when Kadin started kindergarten, it would probably be harder for me to let him go than for him to go on his own. In fact, we took him to a development day at the school and he just ran into the classroom and started playing with all the toys - he didn't even look back to see where we were.

The very thought of Kadin some day hopping on his bike and taking off with his friends terrifies me! I can't imagine not knowing where he is at all times and being there to protect him from the dangers of the world.

I had a first as a parent on Sunday . . . it was the first time Kadin went over to a friend's house to play. There is a little boy named Nicholas that spends time at his grandma's house - his grandma lives two houses down from us. Nicholas plays with Phillip and Christina, so naturally Kadin became friends with Nicholas as well.

So, we get home from Grandpa's house and like clockwork, there is Phillip, waiting for us . . . but this time he had Nicholas with him. He asks if Kadin can play and Nicholas says they can go to his house and play in the basement. Of course I am uneasy with this because I don't really know Nicholas or his family . . . but Brian assures me that he'll be fine.

Kadin rushes to get his shoes on and as I'm frantically trying to lay the ground rules for going to a stanger's house I watch my little boy run away with his friends out of our yard and out of sight.

As I watch him go, I think about the coming months when we will be dropping him off for his first day of school . . . some day we will be dropping him off at college.

Being a parent is so strange . . . there are days when I feel like time is standing still . . . then there are days like yesterday when I can't remember when my little baby grew into a boy.