There are moments in parenting (and step-parenting) when you feel the shift before it actually happens. Think the first wobbly bike ride without training wheels, the first points scored in their favorite sport, the first time they roll their eyes at you in a way that is equal parts annoying and impressive. Senior year feels like all those moments rolled into one, but it is bigger, heavier, and somehow also...lighter.
Our best girl has walked through these school years with grit, humor, and a quiet strength that is envy-worthy. She's not perfect. Thank God because perfect is boring. But this girl has a spark that makes you stop and think, "She's going to do big things." and she will!
This year is our last lap in the K-12 marathon and I'd love to say I'm gracefully soaking up every minute. Truth is, it's messy. I feel stuck between "please don't grow up yet" and "go on, fly already." It's wanting her to keep coming home for dinner, but also wanting her to have a life so big and bold that those dinners mean more because we know that time with us doesn't come without sacrifice.
We are proud beyond words. We are proud of how she's faced challenges that would have buckled others. We are proud of how she stands up for what she believes in, even when it falls into the "unpopular opinion" category. We are proud of how she's learning when to push forward, when to pause, and when to ask for help. Most of all, we are proud of her kindness - primarily the kind she doesn't always wear on her sleeve, but the kind that shows up when it matters most.
She's about to step into a phase of firsts and lasts. First college applications, last homecoming, first day in a new school (this one is a bit unique to her), last first day of school, etc. After that, she will have the freedom to make her own calls, set her own boundaries, and live the life SHE chooses. I cannot wait to watch her navigate it all. Not because we are "done", but because we know she will be ready to forge her own independent path.
This year will bring joy, reality checks, tears, laughter, and probably a few deep breaths while I count backward from 100 and bite my tongue (IYKYK). We will take it all in stride - the calm and the chaos.
Cheers to this beautiful little lady and her senior year. Her courage, her sass, her intelligence, and above all else her heart. Hers will be a beautifully unpredictable road ahead and we know it's going to be one worth watching.
Wish us luck as we let go, cheer loudly from the sidelines, and trust that she's going to soar high above the bs.
