When?

Derek has had some struggles with preschool this year, especially with making friends. Lately, I have begun to wonder:
When does this job get easier?
When do I stop worrying?
When do I stop holding my breath as I watch my child walk into a new situation?
When do I stop wanting to push anyone out of the way who doesn't treat him like the amazing person I know he is?
How can I protect him from all the hurts in the world?
I know that someday he will have his heart broken by a friend, a girl, someone that he trusts. I know everyone learns how it feels not to be picked for a team. I know that everyone gets betrayed. I can handle that for me. How do I learn to accept that someday he will have to endure this pain himself?
I want to protect my baby from all of it.
It's a tough learning curve, motherhood.
Just when you think it's getting easier a new challenge comes along.
Maybe if we all thought of every person as a child like our own we would treat them better... the world could be a better place...