Sometimes when I imagined dropping Chloe off at Kindergarten, I pictured her surprising us all; clinging to my leg, crying, “Mommy, you are my world. Don’t ever let me go!”

There were no surprises.

I could barely contain Chloe in her car seat on the drive to the school for the Kindergarten orientation meeting.

“Mom, do big kids even have to wear seat-belts?”

Oh dear.

She ran into the building ahead of me (trying to shake me) and when escorted into the classroom by two total strangers (“teachers”) while the parents were encouraged to join the adult meeting, she didn’t look back.

An hour passed and when I returned to pick her up she said what every parent dreams of hearing, “Were you gone?”

She asked repeatedly if she could at least stay until recess but given it was after 7pm, I knew there was no chance at any organized, outdoor activities so we had to use the playground for an allotted time of her choosing and I did have to make a believable recess bell sound before heading home.

She looked at me puzzled as we walked (she skipped) toward the van and asked, “Wait, do you have to drive me? Why can’t I take the bus home?”