Milestone

It started out as an ordinary day.  A day like any other.  I can't say that I haven't been prepared.  I knew it was coming.  Imminent.  The two front (bottom) teeth have been loose for weeks.  They have been holding on stubbornly, so much so that the permanent ones have already come in behind them.

She's been complaining about the pain for days.  "Ouch, Mom, it hurts!!"  "It'll come out soon, Sky.  Then it won't hurt anymore."  I've been cutting her fruit into thin slices; yesterday's pizza had to be cut into bite-size morsels.

Tonight at dinner: "I can't eat anymore. It's too sore!"  "Why don't you try pulling at it a little?  Maybe see if it'll come out?"  One tooth is so loose, it's dangling, begging for release.  "Nooo!  It's too sore!"  Why self-inflict pain when you can prolong it, right?  I get it.  I'm exactly the same way.

Suddenly:  "I did it, Mom!  It came out..."  In her voice, incredulity, relief, triumph.  "Oh, Skyler!"  I go over to see her little tooth, her bloody grin.

And just like that it happened.  Later, I'm watching her inspect her new smile in the mirror.  What's next?  Today a tooth, tomorrow a training bra, a plane ride to college, a walk down the aisle?  I'm not ready.  It's all happened too fast.  Wasn't it just yesterday that she cut her first tooth?

I know, this is all a part of growing up, for both of us.  Tomorrow will be another ordinary day.  But for tonight, for now, all I can feel is,  I'm not ready.  I'm just not ready.