It's One A.M.

Well, more like 1:12 according to the computer clock. And I can't sleep.

My five year old daughter told me that she doesn't need a story before bed. Nor does she need me to cuddle with her while she falls asleep. She's five now, she said. I am devastated.

This is a girl to whom I've read a story to every single night since she was a baby. This is a girl who has always slept in my room up until a couple of weeks ago, whether it be in her crib, or my bed, or her bed in my room. This is my baby whom I've held while she fell asleep. This is a girl who asked me just the other week to cuddle with her for a few minutes before bed.

And now she fell asleep all by herself. In her own bed. In her own room across the hall. I waited up for her, with my light and tv on, should she get scared and change her mind and tell me she needs a story and me to lay with her in order to fall asleep. But she never came. Instead, I stood in front of her door about 10 minutes ago, listening to her snore.

I am heartbroken.