Where did the years go?

I’ve been there for my granddaughter, the wiggly Worm since the beginning.  Wasn’t it just yesterday, or the day before?

There was the curly top who never made a sound, never babbled — diagnosed with apraxia of speech (the brain doesn’t know how to make sounds and needs to be trained).

A beautiful butterfly (first Halloween) who emerged from her cocoon as a darling baby doll Shirley Temple (another Halloween) who toddled to each house, then buried her head in her candy sack rather than move on.

The dirtiest little angel — “I’m the messiest little girl ever,” she exclaims — who now after speech therapy is never quiet with a slight Sylvester the Cat lisp.  Who plays word games and dresses up in my shoes.

This morning she called me on the phone before her first day of kindergarten.  “Grandma,” she said, “I’m ready for school.  I took a shower then ate my breakfast.”

I heard her older brother, a pro at the first day of school now — ready for second grade — in the background.  “You’re going to have to learn to spell.”

“Pause a minute, Grandma,” she said, as she pulled the phone from her ear.  “I already know how to spell,” she yelled to her brother, perhaps a bit arrogant for her four-plus years.

“Big words,” he hollared back.

“Whoa,” a little voice said, a little more humbled.

Today the Worm (lucky teacher) started school.  Where did the years go?

Related posts:

1. Weekend at grandma’s
2. Play ball
3. I am woman, hear me roar
4. Game night with grandkids
5. Grandma reservations