The Kissing Hand

Abby Grace has continued to struggle with going back to school this year. Most mornings, upon being dropped off, she has cried and clung to Mommy. Her teachers and the director of her school promise that she just has my number and recovers quickly once I am gone, but those words of encouragement were only getting me so far. So, like all good mommies, I typed, "toddler dislikes daycare" into my little Google toolbar, and look what I found!!! The Kissing Hand is about a little raccoon who is starting school but is afraid to leave his mommy; he wants to stay home, play with his toys, read his books, and swing on his swing (basically the same story I hear each day). But his mommy tells him of a way that she can always be with him, even when he is at school. She opens his fingers and gently kisses his palm; then when he misses her he can simply rub his palm against his cheek and feel her kiss. On Friday after picking Abby up from school, we made a special trip to Barnes and Noble and bought this book. Last night, we read it together as a family, with me taking very deep breaths between many of the sentences in an attempt not to cry myself. I managed, and Abby was able to relate the story to her situation, "Raccoon crying. Raccoon miss Mommy. Raccoon school? Raccoon no cry?" So was this book the miracle we needed? I don't know, but I do know that Abby Grace did not cry this morning. We kissed palms and she went into school with a brave (not happy) face. And the look I got when I turned to leave, was one of, "I am staying but you need to know I would rather be going!" followed by a little wave. Progress is progress, right?