There she goes, out of my arms and into the world. Her pigtails bouncing as she walks. She is still so little yet, so grown up.

Today, my daughter started Preschool. She no longer wants to be called my baby, she insists on being a "big girl".

How can I just let go of the baby I've held on to for so long? I don't know, but it has to be done. She is her own person, not an extension of me.

"Bye mom, see you later!" she yelled as she waved.

I waved back but I stood there, watching her. In a way I was hoping she would turn around and run into my arms, as she had in the past when she found herself in unfamiliar surroundings. I waited, and nothing. Just her big bright smile turning and walking into the school, holding her teacher's hand. I waited until I could no longer see her brightly colored dress. I slowly turned blinking away the tears.

"Don't cry, you cant cry," I tried telling myself, "it's only for half a day."

I returned to the car and looked at her empty booster seat. I took a deep breath as my eyes filled with tears. I turned the car on and drove home. I can't cry, it cant happen. I don't cry. I pulled up into my driveway, put my car in park, and sat there. At about second seven, I was bawling. I laid my head on my steering wheel and just let go of all the tears. My baby is gone. She is grown up. When did this happen?

I looked in the mirror at my tear stained face. I wiped the smudged eyeliner off of my puffy eyes. Sighing, I got out of the car and walked towards my door. As I walked into my house, I noticed something disturbing.

It was quiet.

I sat on the couch, flipping through channels. I sat back and glanced at her coloring book and crayons laying on the coffee table. Normally we would be coloring or playing with play dough right now.

I turned my attention back to the television and continued flipping through channels. Wow, I really need to do something. Am I supposed to just sit here and wait. I got up and brought out the scrapbook I made for our family. I sat down and started looking through it. I looked at the old pictures of me and my husband. I remembered our life before we had our princess. I looked at the pictures of us when she was a newborn, our tired faces from not sleeping at night. I looked through the pictures of her growing up. She was such a beautiful little angel.

While going through all of the memories, I lost track of time. I looked at the clock. Oh man! It was time to go get her from school already. I rushed to my car and started off towards the school. I quickly walked up to the school door, where I was met by her big beautiful smile and a picture that she colored just for me. I stayed and chatted with her teacher for a little bit. I was watching her interaction with the other children, how much she enjoyed being there and I realized. This isn't the end of the world, just the beginning of a bright future.