Baby of Mine

You have babies, they grow into adults sooner than you want, they leave the home, and they come home again and leave yet again. Tonight our oldest left yet again, this time off to Grad school at UC Berkeley. She is so independent, which is comforting and scary at the same time. I have no doubt she will do well, she always has.

On our recent trip to the Grand Canyon she stepped to close the edge, I say be careful and she says "Mom stop worrying." Me? Stop worrying, not a chance.

I tell her as she leaves, "Be careful and every now and then think of what mom would think." She looks at me and says "Mom . . ." I hold my fingers up barely apart and say "Just a little, every now and then?" "Just a little," she says. I hug her knowing she will do things that I wouldn't, and also knowing for as grown up as she is, no matter what, she will always feel safe in my arms, because after all she is and always will be my baby. . .