a morning good-bye kiss

Reading Michelle's slice in the morning inspired me.

I am all set to go to school. My snack and school bag are waiting on the hallway bench, I have washed my teacup and little red teapot, there is only one more thing to do before heading off to work.

The goodbye kiss to Mimm.

Last year she asked me to wake her up before I left. This was almost an hour before she really needed to get up. A hug, and a kiss, and waving through the window became part of our morning ritual. I would go to her room, slowly pull the blanket away, gently shake her shoulder, tickle her sides, she would squirm and wiggle, but eventually throw her hands around me. I would carry her to the hallway, we would kiss and hug, she would sprint to the living room window to make sure to see me one more time.

Slowly things changed.

First we stopped waving at the window.

Then she woke up but stayed in her bed.

This fall she started to cherish her morning sleep and asked only for a kiss.

She had become too big for her bed, and we had to extend it, and rearrange her whole room. Now her bed hides in a corner behind a cupboard.  

It's hard to see where Mimm is under the mound of the blanket. I tap around the bed lightly to be sure I don't squish her with my knees as I climb in the bed, to reach her to give her a good-bye kiss.

"Have a wonderful day. Be good." I slide my hand over her silky hair and plant a kiss on her warm cheek.

She only mumbles and pulls the blanket tighter.

One day she is going to ask me to stop kissing her in the morning.

I hope that it won't happen yet.