Letting Go

There are a lot of hard things about being a mommy and mostly they are all hard because we love our children so So SO much! Right now I am struggling with "letting go". I'm not talking about my oldest going to school, oh how do I already dread that. He's growing up too quickly the way it is! I am talking about getting my oldest to fall asleep on his own, without mommy by his side. Oh how it is hard on me to let go. He doesn't need me laying next to him. He plays with my hair (his security blanket) for awhile but he knows how to fall asleep on his own. I feel like the gate keeper anymore.... laying there as the easy way to make sure he stays in his bed. He's old enough to do it on his own without mommy. (Oh that was hard to type, and no I will not be saying that out loud.) I had tried this before but was unable to let go but last night as I lay with him I decided it needed done. So I left the room for a little bit after explaining to him what was going on. He came to the door and I stopped him and told him he needed to go back to bed and back to bed he went. (He listens so well! He's an amazing little boy I am so proud of!) I went back in and layed with him for a little while, then left the room again. This time a little longer. And this time he didn't come to the door. He waited for me to come back. And when he saw me, he laughed. (He must think it's a game? My heart doesn't think so!) So I lay with him a little bit (each time a little less in length) and he quickly drifted off to sleep. He can do this. I can do this. I will just have to give myself a pep talk each night before his bedtime.