Last week Madison brought a note home from school. Of course that’s nothing new. Kids bring home notes all the time. There are reminders about lunch money. Permission slips for field trips. But the look on my daughter’s face told me this was no ordinary note. 

“I’m supposed to give you this.” Madison’s eyes avoided mine as she held out the paper. 

She’s doesn’t normally get into trouble. 

“Is it from your teacher?” 

“No, it’s from the nurse.”

Across the room, Taylor looked up from her homework. “Some kid probably has head lice.”

Madison crossed her arms. “Nobody’s got head lice.” Her face wrinkled. “It’s worse.” 

Worse than head lice? 

I glanced at the paper and within an instant, remembered. Three years ago I received the same note when Taylor was in fourth grade – and two years before that with Emily. For some reason, it always catches me off guard. I began reading it out loud.

“Dear Parent, On May 19th your daughter will be given the opportunity to view the video ‘Always Changing.’”

“Oh – that note!” Taylor nodded her head and laughed out loud. 

“It’s not fair!” Madison dropped her backpack to the floor. “The boys get to have an extra recess, but the girls have to stay inside and watch this movie.”

I was tempted to give her a few more reasons why life wasn’t fair, but decided against it. If she didn’t know by now, she’d soon find out. I tried to ignore the old Steve Miller song running through my head. 

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future … 

I guess this note was my not-so-subtle reminder that my girl is growing up. It may as well have said:

Dear mother in denial … Please take this as your official warning. Your baby is growing up. Even though right now she thinks boys are yucky and she’d rather attend a baseball game than shop for dresses at the mall, don’t be fooled. Her time is coming. Enjoy every moment of these childhood years.

The school nurse is right. My daughters are “always changing.” But there’s something about this last girl that makes me want to hold on just a little bit longer.