Pea had her first day of “camp” today. I dropped her off at 9 am sharp, and as soon as we parked and got onto the grass, she took off from me, running to the front door of the school. She never looked back. Never. She grabbed her teacher’s hand, and off she went, disappearing around the corner of the hallway. I was devastated, and yet bursting with pride. Devastated because in her two years on earth, she has never had separation anxiety from me. Ever. She’s always been content to go along on her way, oftentimes completely forgetting to say goodbye to me. My mother-in-law says it’s going to happen, that eventually she will feel that anxiety, but I say “no way.” And so enters the pride. My husband and I have raised a really strong and fiercely independent little girl. I’m sure some of it is just who she is, but can’t we have some of the credit?

When I picked her up three hours later, she was so happy to see me. She was lugging her giant LL Bean boat & tote with her name embroidered on it, and her hair was in ringlets around her face, which happens when it gets wet, and her teacher told me that it’s as if she’s always been there, that she was that comfortable.

I’m so glad she’s such a well-adjusted little person. I’m so glad she didn’t have any fears of trying something new – by herself. And I’m so so so thrilled that she was so excited to see me at the end of the day.

Now this is a confident kid.