The title of this post was definitely inspired by our mutual love for Taylor Swift.
I have a senior in high school and she graduates in next week.
My heart is not ready for this. Nobody can really prepare you for the way you are going to feel when you have a kid on the cusp of leaving the nest and venturing out in to the world to discover it for themselves.
True. You prepare for it. You read books on how to raise strong, confident, and healthy children. You pray a lot. You spend time, money, energy and your whole heart into the development and care of your little ones.
Then, in what feels like a blink, they become adults. They have their own ideas. They discover their own ways of dealing with conflicts, relationships, friendships. They make plans like going to dinner, getting part time jobs, joining clubs and sports to use their gifts and express their passions. They dream of their own future, what that would look like. They think about their future partners and the kids they may or may not want to have.
My daughter is my oldest. The one who made me a mama. I am so grateful and thrilled that I get to call her not only my daughter, but my friend. I look forward to seeing her blossom as she ventures out in to the world and make it her own. She gets to decide. Not me. Not her father. Not her grandparents or anyone else. I look forward to the days when she just calls me up out of the blue so we can grab lunch and be little chismosas together. She wants to travel the world, and I want to go with her.....and I also hope she goes on her own. Discover the beautiful cultures and people and connections that await her.
Madi girl, I don't really have the words (rare, I know) to express how I feel right now. You are my sweet girl. Literally one of my favorite people. I am really, really happy that you are growing up and about to take your flight. You got this. I know there is so much pressure right now for you to decide everything at once. Your list will be endless:
Get a job.
Register for classes.
Figure out what you want to do for your career.
Make new friends.
Study hard.
Your living situation.
Figuring out how you are going to pay for everything.
My encouragement to you is to take a big breath. You will figure it all out. Heck, your mama is still figuring it out. No matter what anyone else may try to tell you, you are not behind in life. I don't care how other people lived in the past or how they figured things out in the past. In 2024, you will find your way. You, as Madi, will figure out your calling and your purpose.
I am so unbelievably proud of you. You have not had it easy. You experienced lots of loss in your life. Yet how you manage to push through it all is inspiring even to me. "Kids are resilient" they say and while that may be true, you are a force to be reckoned with.
I will be an absolute mess watching you walk across that stage next week. I had to ask your future step dad to take photos and video (he took these by the way. He is super proud of you as well) that evening because I am pretty sure I won't be able to see anything through all of my wailing.
Whatever you dream up in your heart, share with me and let me come along, even if just figuratively or through a phone call. I can't wait to see where God leads you. Dream big. Take up space. Empower others. Serve with all of your heart. Kindness goes a long way. Be assertive and confident. Use your voice. Be loud when necessary. Make your own table if no one allows you to sit with them. Live generously. Do good. Love and follow Jesus. Love others.
You are the ultimate Dream BuildHer Bestie. I am rooting for you and will always be.
Love,
Your Mama
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