Stephanie's Preschool Program

Yesterday was Stephanie's preschool program. I don't like to call it a 'graduation' because that just sounds like something so 'old'. Anyway, the plan was that I was to drop the girls off at school at 9:30 and Chris was going to arrive from work to the school at 9:30 to watch the program. Since I had recently gone on the field trip with her, I was going to leave and go into work and just Chris was going to stay. No big deal. So I thought! So, we get there and I drop Katie off in her classroom after she screams and pitches a fit that she doesn't want the happy meal they are ordering her because she wants what I packed in her lunch box. (I might need to say that oops I forgot about the happy meals and packed her lunch). So, I left the lunch box just in case all while knowing that she would eat the happy meal when everyone else had one too. Anyway, back to the story....So we see Chris and I kiss Stephanie goodbye and proceed to leave the building as I watch all the moms and dads take their seats in the auditorium for the program. I get to my car and realize that there is absolutely no way that I can go to work at this point. I am beside myself that 1) my daughter is 'graduating' from preschool and 2) I have decided that it is no big deal for me to miss her 'graduation' program. Now mind you, there has been no guilt trip from Stephanie. She is perfectly happy to have daddy with her. Mommy on the other hand is not okay. So, I do the awful employee thing and call the boss and explain the situation and ask if it would be alright if I come in late. I go back inside and try to dry my eyes and I see my beautiful daughter exiting for the bathroom. She sees me and I pick her up and apologize, to which she doesn't understand...I explain that mommy should have never chosen work over her and I am sorry. She just says, "mommy, that's okay". So, I nearly made the worst mistake of motherhood yet(not the last I'm sure), but fortunately my instinct took over in time and I was able to be there for the first of many 'bigs' in my daughter's life. I say all this to say that I know that regardless of how great the program is or isn't, it is still a big deal to be there for every milestone in your child's life. I would have regretted and been so miserable if I had not stayed the extra 30minutes to see her program. I am so sad to see her done with this phase of life and I am so not looking forward to seeing her off to kindergarten next year. But I know that this too is part of growing up...for her and mostly for me!