You Read a Book to Me This Morning

There you were, this morning, reading.

You came holding a little paper book they had printed at school. "Momma," you said, "You need to sign this!" And I know by now that what that means is that I'm to review something and verify that I have reviewed it, seen it. When I saw the book in your hands, I knew you were to read it to me.

"Okay," I said. "Go ahead and read it to me and then I'll sign it!"

You read the title page and opened the little paper book with care. And then you started reading.

When did you learn how to read?!? Since when are kindergartners reading books in their first half of their year?!? Was I reading this soon?!?!

You read with confidence. You knew the words. You followed each one with your finger.

I think it was about a child going to the library. But I really couldn't focus because I was too busy watching you read.

I couldn't help but stare at your continually morphing profile. You there, with your glasses, downwardly gazing onto the page. I watched your nose, as it held your beautiful little glasses, how it bobbed ever so slightly as your mouth opened and closed. And then your mouth...

Since when did you start forming words like this on your own? You are reading lines, not haltingly, as if you are just learning words, but, rather, like you've known them all along.

When did this happen?!? When did you get so grown up?

And then you were finished and you looked up at me with your expectant look--and you could see Mommy was proud of you. I saw the corners of your mouth pull into a wide smile when I applauded you and told you over and over what a smart girl you are.

And you are, Psalm. You are, already, such a smart girl.

I am amazed by you, but I often don't get any length of time to enjoy that amazement I have of you...because you are continually doing fabulous, wondrous new things.

When you saw my pleasure at your reading performance, you said quickly, "Mommy, get a pen so you can sign it!"

And when I did, you had to hold it proudly, all the way to school, so you could deliver it, as you were asked, to your teacher.

You are a darling little girl. Not so little, anymore, I'm afraid. I just want you to know, Psalmie, that I am so very proud of you. SO. VERY. PROUD. OF. YOU.

I love you, darling girl, always and forever,

Mommy