Big girls don't cry

Bullshit. Big ones, little ones, short ones, tall ones. So, today, I cried. For those of you who know me, that is not a common occurrence. In fact, I pride myself on being a non-cryer.

I dropped little Miss Boo off at “school” (thanks PJ) yesterday morning knowing that it would be the last time I kiss her cheeks for almost three weeks. In my child's two years on this Earth, I had never been away from her overnight until last week (for a week). A week later, I am taking off for three weeks! While I’m thankful for Skype technology, there’s no doubt that I will feel the separation. Will she notice? Will she think about me? Probably not, but in a way, that is a good thing. She will be too busy harassing the dogs, dancing at school, eating hot dogs (despite my best efforts to keep them away), and playing with her friends. Not a bad way to get through your day. Let’s face it, it will truly be more agonizing for me to spend my time wondering what she is doing and trying to curb the emotional pain I feel with the distance from Boo and my husband.

Why am I even writing about this? Doesn’t every parent cry when they get separated from their child for a period of time? Eh, maybe not. I’m certainly not going to try and convince anyone that my bond with my child is stronger than the next, but I find myself being especially proud of her because she has given me something no one else can…a genetic link. For the first time in my life, I actually have someone genetically linked to me and I can revel in the comments that “oh, she looks like you, she has your eyes, your nose, etc.” What a feeling.

Someday, I imagine that Boo will have questions. Where did mommy come from, how did she get here, etc. Like my parents, I plan to have those conversations with her as soon as she is able to absorb it. Fortunately, I think Boo lives in a time where everyone is just a little "mixed up." As a result, I can only hope that she is covered from the ignorance I've encountered throughout my life.