Stepping Back

Today my baby started her freshman year of high school with a smile on her face.

She got herself up at 6 a.m., did her hair in record time, didn’t have her usual battle with the tempestuous eyeliner, chattered away at breakfast about who she was meeting before first period and where, indulged my first-day-of-school photo session, and with a quick kiss and hug was on her merry way, upbeat and ready to take on 9th grade.

Last night, though? Last night was a different story.

Last night there was...