I can still remember the liberating feeling of my pink banana seat wobbling under me as my dad let go of my bike. Tonight R had her first taste of that freedom. No more training wheels, no more dad holding her bike. The only thing powering her bike is balance, concentration and determination. Once she got her wheels under her she did not want to come in the house. Two hours were spent riding around our neighbourhood this evening. Just when she would tire and would be about to call it quits another neighbour would step outside so R would have to show off her new skills and she would be heading back up the street with her blond ponytail and her purple bike streamers flying behind her. What a milestone!
My little boy is also gaining independence. Today was the kids' first day with the nanny who will be caring for them and taking them to preschool three days per week. It was hard to leave this morning when B had just rolled out of bed in his jammies with his sleep-tousled hair. Usually, him and I cuddle on the couch in the morning for a few minutes to welcome the day as we wait for the kettle to boil. Today, I rushed out the door to meet my kindergarten students and left him with just a hug and a kiss. I missed that quiet cuddle time. B did just fine, though and so did his sister. Tangible signs of my kids' independence and growth has never been so apparent to me as it was today. Today was a big day. A big, happy, glorious, and wistful day.
