The days are long, but the years are short

I never really bought into this. I'd heard it many times, but couldn't really believe it to be true. Because, let's face it, the days are long. All of them are long. And day after day after day is just long. And sometimes the week just drags on. 

But now, here I am, the night before I send Curly Girl off to full day kindergarten, and all I can think is yes, yes, a thousand times yes. This couldn't be more true. 

The days are long, but the years are short.

It dawned on me recently that I've been a mom for as long as I was a teacher. That means I've now been out of teaching for as long as I was in it. Doesn't seem possible, but five whole years have gone by. Five years of being a full time stay at home mom.

Five years of investing and pouring into this beautiful little human. Giving her all I have to give every day and then some. Giving of my time, my energy, my patience, my caring, my livelihood. Giving her all of it. 

These days are so long. So exhaustingly long. Dealing with the mess and the tears and the noise and the chaos and the whining and the bodily fluids... 

And the love. And the joy. And the smiles and coos. The belly laughs. The happiness and laughter.  

And right now, I want to see this amazing little girl shine and soar! But I also want to press rewind and get these 5 years back to do it all again. Because, crazy as my life is these days, I absolutely love it.

So, as I sit here tonight, with tears in my eyes, wishing that tomorrow wouldn't bring what it's inevitably going to bring, all I can do is pray. Pray for me. Pray for her. Pray for this teacher who is hopefully going to pour into her as I have for the past five years. Pray for the friends she'll make. And pray for our relationship, that despite her no longer being my little girl at home with me, we'll grow deeper in love each day.

And also the assurance that everything is going to turn out okay :)