The Little Girl Spreads Her Wings.....then closes them quickly

Let's start with a refresher, I am the mom that cried when I took my baby to Kindergarten and was consoled by a teacher.......I have moved on to the mom that has said, "Viv, why don't I pull up in the drive way (at school) and you get out and walk in alone." (I started saying this the 2nd week of school) It has become the habit of parking and walking hand-in-hand to the cafeteria where I kiss her and tell her to have a great day, I hate to admit it but I secretly like doing this, a few weeks ago this all changed! We still walk hand-in-hand reciting her spelling words of the week or about what is going on at school except on rainy days when I again start to encourage her to let me drop her off in front of the school so she can run in. I have been traveling some with work so I don't know what the system is for everyone but I guess she has become more independent while I was away because walking her in the other day she asked me to just open the door for her and she would walk in alone. I was stunned but I respected it and let her spread her wings, this week walking in she uttered the words that left me speechless....I know, I can become speechless.....she told me that she would walk up the sidewalk alone. I know I have to let her grow up but within seconds of me being OK she quickly took my hand and said, "maybe you could walk me just today" and I jumped at the chance. This morning we pulled up to the school and she was ready to walk that sidewalk alone and quickly turned for me to once again walk beside her and I teared up because I know it will soon end and she will take those steps without me.