an open letter to my firstborn

my dearest, most incredibly awesome daughter,

i don't think the words exist yet that describe how much i love you. from the very moment you were born, i took one look at that wrinkly, wiggly itty bitty bit of a thing and knew that there was pretty much nothing i wouldn't do for you.

not much has changed. well, you aren't wrinkly or itty bitty anymore, but i am still (and will forever be) your biggest champion. we've been through some struggles together and i'm pretty sure there have been times that you just wanted to tune me out, plug your ears and go "LALALALALALALA," but we just power through and come out even stronger in the end. 

watching you go from infant to toddler to preschooler to "the kid" and then "the teen" has been such an honor and a privilege.  life with you is never dull, my dear. and i wouldn't have it any other way.  also, what the hell am i gonna call you here when you aren't a teen anymore?  hmmmm.

i'm grateful to you for teaching me so many things. with you, i learned how to be a mother - from the basics like feeding and diapering to figuring out how to discuss sex and drugs and boys and then how to deal with the fact that you're more like your mother than we ever realized (sorry 'bout that). being your mom has taught me how to walk that fine line between parent and friend, when to push and when to back off. with you, i also figured out that it's okay to have the most carefully-laid plans go slightly awry. 

i still can't get over the fact that you're an adult now. you're a high school graduate! holy shit. where did the years go? it seems like just yesterday that you headed off to class for your very first day of kindergarten. 

and now look at you!

it is going to be so much fun watching you step out into the world and try your hand at whatever catches your attention. there's so much out there for you to see and do and learn, and guess what?  it's okay to make mistakes. really. just hold your head up and keep on keepin' on.  and we will always, always be here for you.  now remember:

you is kind

you is smart

you is important 

come on, you didn't think i was gonna be able to keep this 100% cheese-free, did you? i sure hope you know me better than that by now. pshh. 

love always and forever,

mom <3 nbsp="">