School's Almost Out...

The girls are in their last week of preschool before summer vacation.  Back in August, they adopted a routine that they have stuck with the entire year.  After they hop out of my car in the carpool line, Amanda grabs Elizabeth's hand and patiently escorts her to her classroom.  Then she walks around the corner to her Pre-K room.   I saw them do this for three days a week, every week, and after a while I even started taking it for granted. 

Then Brian would have one of his occasional free mornings that would allow him to drop the kids off, and his joy at seeing Amanda taking such good care of her sister would remind me to enjoy this fleeting little ritual while I could.  As a big sibling himself, Brian sees it as his responsibility to impress upon Amanda that the considerable privileges of "big sister" status come with equally considerable obligations.  First and foremost, he tells her, you always look out for your little sister.  When you're in a place that's new to her but old to you, you show her the ropes.  "Okay, Dad, I get it," she says, and so far it seems like she really does.

This was my view from the car for nine months.  I will miss it:

Next year Amanda will be on the opposite end of the building in Kindergarten.  No more holding hands while they get out of the car; no more waving at each other when they are both playing in the courtyard; no more pretending that I still have babies, or at least, toddlers.  These two are children now; there's no denying it anymore.