On this, the last day of school, I wonder what tomorrow will bring. No, I’m not talking about the next school year. I’m really talking about tomorrow. My daughter is the kind of child where you can’t take any day for granted.

Yesterday evening after school Beth was excused to go to her friend’s house. Like a good parent I watched her walk down the street, presumably to make sure she got there safely. Why the act of watching her will make her safer, I have no idea. While she was walking down the sidewalk I was struck by the image before me. The whole situation seemed like the perfect metaphor for childhood. Beth walking further and further from her parent’s influence, the further she got, the less I could do to help, the joyful bounce in her step as she struck off on her own,.

Clearly, I am not at all ready for this.