Friday, May 9, 2008

Today, She Is Five.

Last night, I got in bed with Lily and talked about her big day. Her fifth birthday is today. We giggled about the party. I teased her about the "big surprise" I have on the way. Tucking Lily in is my favorite time of the day.

Then she asked me, "Daddy, are you sad that I won't be four anymore?"

All choked up, I answered, "Yes.....but I'm more excited but just a little sad."

It was not true. I'm really sad. A four year old is just a big toddler, which is still somehow connected to a baby. A five year old is a really, really young kid. My sweet little baby is officially no longer a baby. She is, as Lily often describes herself, "our child."

Five years old means, Kindergarten. She gets taken from my home and sucked up into the big Government School System. D-Fax will start bugging my phones. The big American Society Machine gets to start influencing her tastes in music, art, food, TV, sports, etc. What was once a tiny little life that was all mine, now becomes, in many ways, independent.

So I'm sad today. My baby is growing up. Happy Birthday Lilybean.

3 comments:

Angela said...

Dude, I know the pain. Isabel "graduated" from Pre-K last night. I started crying the minute they began playing "Let Them Be Little" by Billy Dean. Rough.

Anonymous said...

My daughter is 10 and my son is 8... and I must be a big softy, cause I got tears in my eyes. She sounds smart, what a great question.

I know she's been 5 now for awhile, but this is a great post!

Jason
Transparent Christian Magazine

Little Thumb Garden & Kitchen said...

Aw, she's beautiful. I never thought about 5 that way. I guess it is a big deal.