Tara Lynn: Love lessons from my pre-schooler

But looking through the glass classroom door as children surrounded my 5-year-old daughter with hugs, I couldn't hold back.

It was her last day at pre-school. I was expecting it to be more emotional for her, honestly. She has been with most of these sweet kids since she started attending at the age of nine months. She and four other girls had birthdays so close together that they moved up together year by year. In the last two years, they even had joint birthday parties. We parents nicknamed them the "Fab Five." They even call themselves the "Fab Five" these days.

Those girls and their families alone have helped me survive the last two years of Covid life as well as toddlerhood. But so many of the kids have literally grown up before my eyes.

Now they are going their separate ways as they enter Kindergarten at various schools around the Triangle.

I went through this before with my oldest daughter a few years ago. I really didn't expect to be so emotional this time around. My son will still be attending so I will get a chance to still see families with younger siblings at drop-off and pickup.

But as I stood there at the door, my sweet little girl looked right into my eyes as her friends surrounded her, snuggling every last bit of her that they could. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. If she smiled any more, her mouth would have reached both ears. She was absolutely glowing in love. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Pure love. Innocent little hearts that were unafraid to love hard. Unafraid to let their love be seen by others. Also, unafraid to let go. They knew that life would be different. They wouldn't all be together every day. But there was a great peace about them that struck me. As if they knew that if they were to never cross paths again, the love they shared over the years and even in that one moment, was enough.

After I reigned in my tears, (I was on the brink of a major ugly cry y'all), we finally got all buckled up in the car to head home.

My sweet girl says to me, "My friends are really going to miss me."

At first, you could think she was being arrogant. If an adult said those words, you probably would think he or she thought very highly of him or herself. It took me a minute to realize just how beautiful her words were.

She knew without a doubt that her friends loved her. Her friends took the time to show her in so many ways (hugs, drawing her pictures, playing with her) that they cared for her and enjoyed being her friend. She accepted their love.

How many of us hold back sharing how we truly feel about the people we love and care about? How many times have we held back telling somebody we love them because we were too afraid of how they might react or how others around us would react? Have you been afraid to truly love somebody because you worried it might not last forever? How many times have you tried to convince yourself that you are not worthy of love?

What if this week, you not only tell the people you love that you in fact do love them, but find a way to show them? What if today, you allowed your heart to be open to all the love the world has to offer? Because we are ALL worthy and deserving of love.​