Yesterday was Thursday, which is normally the day that I do a marathon 14-hour work day and never see my children or hubby. It was also my baby’s last day of preschool, which meant a special picnic and graduation.

My baby graduating from preschool. So I went to work in the morning and then I left and picked up Justin and took him to preschool. And this all sounds very easy to do, except I work 38 miles to the east of where I live and Justin’s preschool is 15 miles to the west of where I live and that meant a good two hours just spent traveling and burning up my $1.97 per gallon gasoline. Not to mention the time I wasn’t at work doing what I should be doing.

But it was my baby’s graduation. And yesterday I realized that my baby isn’t a baby. He’s tall. He comes up past my waist and I’m 5 foot 7 and 1/2 inches. He still curls onto my lap oh so nicely. But yesterday he was all boy playing with other boys and he looked so big! And they handed out certificates and a bucket full of goodies to all of the kids and thank you certificates to the parents. And it was all very nice. This is the preschool that Autumn and Amanda had went to as well. I would have loved for Maxine to go too, but she couldn’t get in that year.

I love everything about this center. The playground. The teachers and aides. People I’ve known for years who really know about my family and my kids. And care.

I was happy, but I was also worried about everything I wasn’t doing at work that I should be and I was imagining having to stay there until 2 a.m. to catch back up for the few hours I took off in the afternoon. And it was depressing to think of that.

But then it was over, and Justin and I returned to Grandma’s and I was going to drop him off and leave for work, but Grandma wasn’t home. We were early. So we let ourselves in and Justin curled into my lap and I read his new book.

Then we went outside and he rode his bicycle as raindrops chased him. A two-wheeler without training wheels. Last summer he refused to take the training wheels off. Even though he could ride his bike, he didn’t want to give up the training wheels. This year, it’s not even summer and the training wheels are gone.

And he’s grown so much. Grandma arrived a half hour later and I went back to work. And that’s when it hit me. My baby has grown! He’s so much taller. And he’s done with preschool.

No more diapers. No more preschool. How much longer before my kids don’t sit on my lap anymore?

Maxine finally lost her first tooth and then the second one like a day later. She’s about the same height as Justin despite being 18 months older. Tuesday I have a parent-teacher conference with her teacher and the principal. The secretary called to make the appointment, leaving a message on the machine saying she wanted to set up an appointment with the teacher and the principal. So I called back in. And I asked the secretary what the appointment was about.

“Well, I’d assume Maxine,” she said.

Well, duh! Of course, it’s Maxine because it’s Maxine’s teacher. I’m not a complete idiot. But why the meeting, especially one that includes the principal?

“Is it a discipline problem?” I asked.

Nope. So now I’m thinking it’s academic. Maxine had problems earlier this year, especially with numbers. And they talked about possibly holding her back, but said they wouldn’t if she improved. She’s improved, but I’m thinking that’s going to be a topic of discussion. And what am I supposed to do?

I’ve talked to Steve about the possibility. But still, I don’t know. I guess I won’t know until the meeting.

And as for yesterday, I was home by 7:30 p.m. Our wireless Internet connection was down so the editor went to our other office and there wasn’t a computer for me, so I was able to get home early.