Deja Vu – Daughter Brings Back Old Memories

Tonight I took T with her cousin to the roller skating rink and dropped them off.  It honestly gives me the chills to think about it.  My niece is 15 years old and has been going to the same skating rink I went to when I was a kid for a while now.  When she invited T to come along tonight it sounded fun and I knew she would love it.  They went from 7 PM to 11 PM so I agreed to give them a ride and my former brother-in-law is picking them up since Gab and Noah will be sound asleep by then.

As the girls were getting ready I started having memory flashbacks from my days of hanging out at the skating rink.  I told T some stories and even shared with her that this was the same exact skating rink I met her father at 17 years ago.  Of course then I followed up with all the rules of how she better not step foot out the door before her ride arrives to pick her up, not to talk to any boys (not sure how well that one will work out) and to just have a good time.

Driving up to the door of this place, being the one unloading kids and making sure they had everything they needed gave me the chills down my spin.  It just felt weird, awkward, strange….  Where has almost 13 years gone?  Am I sure I am ready for this?  It sure seems like I don’t have much of a choice.  The drive home was filled with memories, being teary eyed that my little girl has grown up and now reminds me more of myself.  Reminds me of days I had almost forgotten.

Half way through the night she texts me ‘I’m having so much fun!‘  We continue to converse via text for a few minutes and she goes on about how great a time she is having with her cousin.  Knowing that she took a quick break to let me know she was okay and to share her excitement with me, reminds me that I must be doing something right.  That was all I needed to put a smile on my face.  My baby girl is growing up, like it or not.