butterflies and boogers

Today, this lovely little Yaya looked up at me in church with a gooey, runny nose and said, "Someday, Mama, I am going to be a beautiful butterfly and I will use my wings to fly, fly, fly, fly to my butterfly mommy. I will miss you."
Good grief. What do you say to that?
Since my girls were born, I have know that part of my job as a mom is to teach my children to leave me. Then my littlest daughter talks about leaving and flying home to her butterfly mommy and my heart hurts a little.
I wanted to burst out into tears. (I am a little tired.) Instead, I got a grip and began to think about what it takes to become a butterfly. That little caterpillar must find the perfect spot and create the perfect cocoon, and then that caterpillar completely changes it's shape and form. It goes to goo. Then all of the caterpillar parts re-organize themselves into butterfly parts. When the butterfly pulls itself out of the cocoon, it must rest while their wings dry - patient lovely winged ones. It's not easy to become a butterfly.
I've decided that I have a new job. It is this: to help my sweet little caterpillar find the perfect spot and support her while she builds the perfect cocoon, then I need to be patient while this teen aged caterpillar goes to goo. I'll help her reorganize, if she wants me to do that (probably not). Then I will wait with her while her wings dry. I will be there when she takes flight. I will wave like mad. And I will wait until she returns home to me.
I will miss you, too, my butterfly girl.