6,935 days

My girl,

This is your final year of being a teen. (Insert my minor, very quiet freakout.) 

In the last year, you have had plenty of endings and even more beginnings. You finished high school and were voted by your peers to speak at graduation. Before your speech was even done that night, I started getting texts about what a fabulous job you had done. I haven’t had many opportunities to see you in your forensics mode, and I was spellbound. You were, and are, poised, smart, well-spoken, funny, and genuine. You and Dad went to the National Debate Tournament in Iowa and celebrated fifty years of the tournament’s existence. Your experience was marred by the presence of yet another gun, but you handled it better than I could have ever imagined. I hate that your generation has grown up with “Run, Hide, Fight” as the mantra of your childhoods, and I truly hope that you all will finally be the ones to do something about it.

 

You had a great summer working, having fun, hanging out with friends, and getting ready for college. It was such an odd feeling to drop you off and then drive six hours away. I knew you would be okay, though, and you were. After a bumpy start due to plenty of sickness in the dorm (Covid, pneumonia, bronchitis, hand, foot and mouth,) things started to fall into place for you. You learned how to study for college classes and find your way around campus, you made plenty of friends, and you settled into living away from home. Even with a change in your major, you’re well on your way to a degree. I’m grateful for technology because texting with you is easy and hilarious throughout the day. You have amazing stories to tell about your adventures at school, and I genuinely feel honored with how much you share with me.

One important thing I want you to remember is that none of this is set in stone. You can change your mind about what to study or where or when; you can change your mind about anything, and it will all be okay. Life has a way of throwing you curveballs, and you have to learn to be okay with things not going exactly as you wanted or expected. Dad always says, “Change BAD!” but I think change is all about growth and experience. Embrace it when you can, and when you can’t, call me so I can support you through it. (Don’t call Dad about that.)

I love that you have stayed connected with the important people in your life from high school, and I’m ridiculously pleased that you and Dallas talk without any prompting from me. Your sibling relationship is important, and I want you to nurture it. In eighteen months, you two will be even further apart physically no matter where he chooses to study, and I know you’ll be a great resource for him as he begins his college career. You’re such a diligent worker that the pharmacy is always happy to have you come back to work, and customers even ask for you by name. That just shows the size of your heart and the depth of your caring.

I find myself constantly impressed by you. You are killing it at school with your classes and with speech. I know it’s a lot of work and a lot of time, but you have stepped into it fairly easily. I know you have been doing some type of forensics for a while now but doing it at college is a whole other level. Through all of it, you remain kind, conscientious, and focused. You have such an incredible future ahead of you: please don’t ever question that. I know how scary and uncertain this time in your life can feel. Never forget that you have so much support and love to help you through everything.

I can’t wait to watch and see what you do, what beautiful, smart, entertaining, and loving things you will do.

 Love you so much,

Mom