Words of Wisdom

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what things I would want my girls to know as they grow up. I thought maybe if I write some of them down and show them later they will realize that I am just not nagging them but I knew from the start what I wanted them to know.

To Izzy and Brooklynn:
Your first day of school will be one of the hardest on me...at least one of the first hardest moments of your life. It means you are becoming more independent and I am becoming less of a fixture in your every day life. More people are teaching you things, whether it is your friends or your teachers, and I am going to have to really struggle at making sure you know what is right and what is wrong. That is my job, to instill in you what I want you to take out of life. I hope I do a good job.

When you are fifteen and you come home and say "I am so in love" with a boy in your school, whether he is your age, older, or younger, I want you to know that it might end up being love, but you don't know that for sure. Don't give up time with your friends. If he is worth it, he will understand. Don't make your whole life about him. He might end up being your husband some day, but don't devote your whole life to this possibility.
Izzy - know that your sister is going to want to be a part of your life, and the things she is doing is not because she wants to bother you, but because she wants to be like you...or to separate herself from you to show you that she is her own person. Brooklynn - it is not that your sister doesn't love you, she is just trying to be her own person and develop into a young lady, and it is hard to do with someone watching her all the time. It will be hard to watch her grow up and to see how distant she is becoming, but I promise in a few years you guys will be best friends again!!

I am not an evil woman by telling you that you can't go out past midnight at sixteen years old. Yes, a majority of what you can do after midnight you can do before midnight (both good and bad). The reason for these rules is I want you to have respect for your body and for your family - you need to have rules to live by. When you are on your own you can do what you want. But while you are in my house it will be for the sake of my sanity for you to get home a descent hour - I will be up waiting for you until I hear that door close. It is just a mother's way for us to worry about all the "ifs" that could happen, and I will worry until I know you are home safe.

On your day of high school graduation - I will be balling, and your dad will be holding back tears. It is not that we think we can hold on to you forever, but it is that we wish we could. You are becoming a woman now and everything in life is going to be so different. You will have to make choices, and I just pray that we gave you the tools you needed to make the right ones. And when you make the wrong ones (because you will), we will be right here ready to help wipe your tears and hold you up when you feel like you are falling. No matter what you decide to do with life from here on out, make sure it is something that will make you happy.

On your wedding day - know that it will be one of the hardest days of your dad's life. You are his little girl(s). He has been the number one man in your life, and now he has to give you to someone else. If we taught you well, he will be a great guy who will treat you well and we will be happy with the decision you made! We will be happy to be there and support you, and know our tears are both of joy and of sadness - this means we are never going to be the same to you. Yes, we know we mean a lot to you but you are starting your own family. You will be beautiful on this day!!

The day you have your child(or children): I hope that I get to be there and be a big part of your child's life. It will be the most amazing experience of your life, and possibly one of the hardest as well. It will be amazing to watch you grow into such an amazing woman and mother. I will want to give you guidance in how to raise children, and it is not because I think you need it, it is because it will help ME to be a part of their lives. If you take my advice, great...if not I will try to understand. I think you will be amazing at this job, and hopefully you learned from me the right way to raise a child.

I love you both, and my world is turned upside down every day due to the changes you make. I am more in love with you every day of my life, and I am excited to walk through life with you - be there for the good things, help guide you through the tough times, and hold you up when you feel like you just can't take any more. We will butt heads MANY times, and there will be things you do that I won't agree with, but no matter what I will always love you!!