Ever since Christmas break at preschool, I've noticed something different when I drop Sophie off at school. A little girl named Ella comes running up to Sophie as soon as we walk in the door. The two show off whatever cool dress or toy they have that day to the other and then run off to play (sometimes leaving mommy in the dust.)
It's OK, because I walk back to the car beaming.
Ella appears to be Sophie's very first little girl bestie (after having lots of little boy besties beginning with French Mathis in Sweden). My friend Amy articulated what I am feeling in a recent post on her blog: "She is one of the first people to discover my daughter, out in the world, with no familial obligation to think she’s the best. She could have chosen any number of the kids at dagis to like above all others, but she chose mine."
This is an extra big deal since several months ago, Sophie's teachers talked to me about her language development and how many of the other kids didn't understand her. It seems that speaking Swedish fluently during the day at school up until she was 2 1/2 sort of got in the way of her English. We've been trying to work on her English, and I think we are starting to get somewhere.
Today, Sophie spent the morning on a playdate with another little school friend. Joey, short for Josephine, told her mom that she wanted to have Sophie over this week. So, for the very first time, I dropped Sophie off at a friend's house and drove away. It felt very strange going grocery shopping as a family of three. Lewis turned to me and said," It's going to be really weird when the kids grow up and move out." Needless to say, we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. But it definitely feels like she has made an enormous leap since Mathis was born.
I thought it only seemed like she suddenly aged a few years when Mathis was born. Turns out she really has been growing up right before our eyes.
And, on that note, I am going to head back to my sewing machine. My not-so-little girl wants a unicorn dress for her 4th birthday.
Wow, wow, wow, a real playdate where you drove away? That is huge! I am so happy for Sophie for finding some girlfriends, and for feeling confident enough for you to leave. It seems like 3-4 is a really big year, like bigger than 2-3. Would you agree?
And of course, thanks for the mention :)
Posted by: Amy | January 15, 2012 at 01:31 AM
Our children have left the nest. My hubby said the other night, "I miss my children" I said "Me too" It is a weird place to be but it is the fruit of all of those formative years, that you are in the midst of now. Enjoy, enjoy enjoy! Time truly does fly.
Posted by: Bonnie | January 15, 2012 at 05:14 PM