Growing up is hard to do

I have found the one thing in this world that is worse than my first "official break-up" - it is that of my child. The romance is over, Tyler has spent the last two weeks in Florida and upon his arrival home has told Claire that "it's not working".

Claire has gone through her stages of grief:

• Sadness
• Anger
• Talking on the phone with girlfriends
• Ice Cream

In years to come, these stages will be joined by watching sappy movies; wearing pajamas for days on end; and, a red nose as a result of much kleenex use, but that will have to wait.

I am so sad for her, but in my own warped-mama way, thrilled that now we can focus on other things - like schoolwork and her new captaincy of the swim team.

Though, can I say, the resilience of youth is amazing. Claire was a puddle of tears when we left (at her insistence) for Cole's hockey game - I'm glad not to have missed it, he got his very first First Star - sometime around 6PM. By the time we returned at 10PM she was chatty, engaging and tear-free. It may be bluster, but she's talking like an mature, rational, grown up person.

Huh? Where'd she come from? I was unprepared for her grown-up transition. It's Louis' belief that she's proving to be my kid. No drama. No more tears. No anger. Just determination to move onward.

So, onward it is.