My Girl

 My girl. 

She's always been a fighter. She's always had a mind of her own (just ask her Auntie Sarah, who was the victim of Rylee cutting her own hair about three or four times on her watch, LOL). Rylee is strong-willed, smart, determined, and feisty. She's also very emotional and a perfectionist, something I struggled with growing up too. She wants to make other people happy, and one of my main goals as her mom is to guide her in ways to do what is right and she believes is the best choice, without caring so much what other people think. I know what it's like to live as a people pleaser, and I don't want that for my kid. 

This morning, Rylee asked me to print something for her for school. I, of course, read what she asked me to print, because that's part of my printing service, right? Here's a snippet of what I got to read today, which just set me up for a wonderful day. 

"My mom is the person that understands me the most, and has really been with me since day one. I had a semi rocky childhood, and didn’t have a solid father figure in my life until I was about 5 years old. I also had heart surgery during this time, so there was a lot on my mom’s plate between having twin kids without a partner in crime. My mom is the strongest person I know, and she has gone through so much shit thrown at her in life. I appreciate every little thing she has done for me throughout the years and continuing on, and what things she had to sacrifice in order to give me a life that she felt that I was worthy of. I really cannot put into words how much love I have for my mom, and what she truly means to me."

Gut. Punch. 

Parenting can be the most exhausting, thankless, grueling grind in the world. 

But then there are moments like this, when I know every tear I've cried along this journey has meant something. It's impacted my girl in a way that hopefully shows her that with grit and determination, you can get through anything in life. And that for the people you love, you will sacrifice and make hard decisions and sometimes it's a learning curve, but we all get there eventually if we have that goal in mind. 

Ry, if you're reading this, I cannot tell you in words how proud I am of you, and how much I love the person that you are becoming. I'm the luckiest mom in the world to get a front row seat to your life, and I hope you know that I would take a bullet for you any day of the week. You are my favorite girl in the whole world, and I'm so grateful you are mine. 

Keep kicking ass, keep caring about people (but not letting them control you or your emotions) and keep showing up for the people and things that matter in your life. I adore you. 

2010

2023