Little steps to achieve a big life

Today I took Cara to a friend's birthday party at Pump It Up. If you have never heard of it, it is a place that has large bounce houses of all kinds inside 2 arenas for the kids to go crazy. It is quite fun. Normally my sweet girl is timid and shy and it takes a while for her to warm up and actually join in. Today she wanted me to hold her hand when they were in line but I told her that she would be fine. She actually believed me this time and went in to the room, sat on the bench and waited for me to come in with the other parents and help her get her shoes off. Then she was off like a shot and playing and making friends with girls she had never met before. This is actually the first time this has happened with her. I was so proud of her!! I was able to sit down and relax and talk to some of the parents and she only came to me when she had real needs, as opposed to needing to verify every 5 minutes that I hadn't left. I was thinking to myself about all of this and she came over to ask me to take her to get a drink. They need an adult because the fountains are outside of the arena. As we were walking she said "Today was the first time I wasn't scared at a party". I told her that I noticed that and was so proud of her. As the party wore on and she started to get tired she was in need of Mom a little more. Which of course I love :-) However I know that this little step is truly a big step in her readyness for Kindergarten and comfort in her own skin. I love watching her become her own person more and more every day.