Being the uber sensitive boy that he is, I was a tad concerned about how Luke would handle going to b-i-g school.

But my concerns were quickly appeased when at 6:30 that morning I could hear the kids quietly discussing their wardrobe for the day....as apposed to the morning before when one yelled at me for not cutting the crust off his toast and the other channeled her future 15 year old self rolling her eyes at everything I was saying when she wasn't ignoring me altogether.

Luke will never cease to amaze me.

In the moments when I think he will panic, he is at his bravest.

As we approached the school, it was easy to spot the kindergartner's parent's, child in tow with excited, anxious and a little sad eyes.

For the first few days, the school lets the kindergarten parents walk their kids to class.

However, that morning Luke informed me that he did not need me to walk him....that he would do it by himself.

Well, technically, he wasn't all alone. His sister, aka boss of the world, was with him. But still, he did not need his mommy hanging around (maybe it was my outfit).

So we say our goodbyes and seeing the hustle and bustle at the drop off area, I figured he might change his mind..but nope.

Luke and Emmylou both stepped down and started towards the entrance.

We pull up a bit but are still able to see them walk up to the door.

We can see them talking to each-other and then about ¼ way up the walk-way Emmylou, sensing her little brother's slight apprehension, tenderly took Luke's hand and they proceeded the rest of the way hand in hand.

Mark and I both looked at each-other and without saying, both knew, that in that moment, how proud we were of our kids....of their compassion for one and other....of their love for each-other.

It is in those fleeting but tender moments that, as parents, we find solace in the wild storm that is parenthood.

As Mark always tells me to do, I took a mental picture of that moment, folded it up and nestled it in my pocket so that, the next day, when they're beating each-other with sticks and emancipating themselves from us, their intolerable parents, I can take my little picture out and remember happier times.