Morning rituals and growing up!

In the morning when I drop off Natalie, we have this little routine whereby she stands inside at the window and I stand outside.  Then we draw little pictures to each other on the window with our fingers.  One morning it's a rainbow and gold, the next it is a heart and a flower and then the third morning a smiley face and star.  And we just rotate through those.  I started it in Kindergarten as a way to get me out the door but still be able to say goodbye.  Then she watches and waves from the window until I leave.  

Well, yesterday she told me she didn't want to do it. But she was in a grumpy mood at the time so I figured that was the reason.  Then this morning, I asked her whether we were doing smiley face and stars or hearts and flowers and she said, "I need to whisper something to you."  So, I bent down and she said, "I don't want my friends to make fun of me."  I told her we didn't have to do it if she wanted to stop, but she said, "No, I want to, but I don't want my friends to make fun of me."  I asked her what they said, and she said, that they said, "I saw what you were doing with your Dad."  Not too bad, but still for a 7 year old, you don't want any type of attention like that!  So, I told her she could just tell them, "Yeah, it's kind of silly.  But I just do it so that my dad doesn't feel bad."  Her face lit up and she said, "Yeah, that's a good idea... Smiley Face and Stars."  

 It was a very sweet moment.  Walking the line between two worlds.  Still holding on to being a little kid, but starting to feel the pull of growing up. I definitely took a moment to enjoy our "picture at the window" a little bit more this morning as I now know I may not have that many more left!