First Day

Today was Sophie’s first day at Sunshine Daycare. I’d been preparing for weeks - touring the facility, meeting Miss Jennifer, buying the perfect first-day outfit (those purple overalls, how could I resist?). I had it all planned out: drop-off would be quick and easy, Sophie might cry a little but would settle in fine.

Turns out I was half right. Sophie walked in like she’d been going there for months. Waved goodbye, toddled straight to the block corner, and started building what I’m pretty sure was supposed to be a castle. Didn’t look back once. Miss Jennifer smiled at me like ‘see? told you so.’

I made it to the parking lot before the tears hit.

First Day

Twenty minutes later, Marcus found me still sitting in the car, mascara probably somewhere around my chin, texting my mom about how this was supposed to be what we wanted but why did it hurt so much? He didn’t say anything, just handed me a coffee and sat with me until I was ready to go home to our suddenly too-quiet house.

She’s growing up exactly like she should. I’m just not sure I’m ready to grow up with her.