Third Grade

Tomorrow, my little girl - the one that I swear was 7lbs 14 oz like YESTERDAY - is starting the third grade. She's embarking on this journey that I'm not ready for. She's picking out her own clothes, she cares about cosmetics, and she's Nair'ing her legs. Oh, and she's wearing bras. (Not out of super huge necessity, though. I'm pretty sure an undershirt is sufficient.) She's growing up. The last 8 1/2 years just went lightening fast! How is a mom supposed to deal with this? I keep thinking, "I'm not old enough to have a third grader!" But then she skips down the stairs telling me about this movie, or that pop song, or whatever she's into at the moment. I almost had a heart attack when she lost her first tooth. I panicked when she started Kindergarten. Now my baby, my PRIDE and JOY, is all grown up. I have so much more to say about this but it's killing me to think about. I need a good stiff Coke.