The other day, I found myself humorously fired from one of my primary roles as a parent: walking my four-year-old son to class. Yes, you heard that right! We were leaving my room and Mason very bluntly states "Mom, I can walk by myself now. I don’t need you." I felt a mix of pride and disbelief—was this the same kid who at the start of the year needed me to give him repeated hugs in order to fill his bank with mom love for the day? Suddenly, I was being dismissed and I felt unneeded. I stood there, chuckling, both flattered and slightly heartbroken. He really dug the knife in when I offered him a hug and his response was, "No, I don't need one" and then smiled and started walking down the hallway. I guess he is truly starting to become a big kid.