I mustered up the courage and sent this baby doll off for another school year. 30 hours a week and I already didn’t feel like I saw her enough with her home with me all summer. This adjustment into school-aged children has been tough for me. Beyond getting used to the constant drop-off/pick-ups, I find myself struggling with her being outside my reach. The influence of the world now a bigger presence in her life. I know that the world needs her goodness, her kindness and light, but it doesn’t make my heart feel less longing for the simpler days when all my babies were mine, all day. Selfishly, I want to keep her all to myself, but this little ray of sunshine was meant to shine her light to everyone around her, and my confidence in that is the only thing that pushed me to get her out that door this morning. Be you forever, my little first grader. #AbsolutelyDidNotWriteThatWithoutSobbing #EveryoneNeedsALylah #FirstDayOfFirstGrade