Today, Jenna and I spent some time researching which universities in the southern states had good journalism and mass communications colleges. We have narrowed down her choices to about 9 with 7 of these being Mother preferred. LOL Now, she is planning to write to each college and ask for more information regarding their programs and admissions information. Once she has info from all 9 she can start deciding which ones she is really interested in applying to.
When did she get so big? It seems like just yesterday I was potty training her and she was scared of alligators in the toilet.
Now, In about a year and a half she will leave me. She will go off into the gigantic, scary world all on her own to do things I have never done. Have experiences I have never had and meet people as herself. Not as my daughter.
It's a scary time for me, y'all.
When Jenna started getting older, I started to do more backing out of her business. She has learned to make most decisions on her own, with input from me but as a result of her own choices. She has fought her own battles, made her own mistakes and has matured at an unbelievable rate over the past few years. I am as proud of her as it is possible to be.
But, she is very young for her age in some ways. There is a sweetness and a naivete about her that is just waiting to be shattered. I want to wrap her in bubble wrap, cocoon her in cotton and keep her away from the asshats of the world. I want her to stay sweet and innocent. I want her to not have to cry into her pillow at night because some jerk treated her badly. I don't want her to have to feel the unfairness of the world when she gets passed over for promotion or does not get a job she wanted.
But, she is growing out and away from me. She is her own person. Her strengths, her weaknesses and her joys and sorrows will be her own from here on out. I can listen. I can hug. I can cry with her and do the happy dance by her side.... but I cannot live her life. And I cannot protect her.
The best I can do is to try to make sure that she is prepared.
So, she is learning to cook. To clean. To drive. To balance a check book. To shop frugally and use coupons. She will be learning to change a light bulb, a tire and her mind. She will learn everything that I can teach her over the next year and a half. And then I will cut the strings and watch her soar. And I will keep my fingers crossed that the breezes she is flying on are gentle and sweet.
What are some of the things you wish YOUR parents had taught you before you left home? What are the silliest things you had to learn all on your own?
3 comments:
my parents did not teach me much... so everything... the silliest thing to learn on my own...how to cook.... thank god for kraft mac n cheese...you are the good mama... those strings are hard to cut
Wow! What a wonderful mother you are. Your daughter is so very lucky and I hope she always realizes that. You are giving her the greatest gift a parent can give a child. Love and independence.
My mother taught me nothing. I mean, I didn't even know you had to pay for the phone and electricity! I thought it was just part of life! When I got out in to the world, I felt like a big fat idiot, but oh my, I have come a long way. I have taught my children to write a check, use an ATM card, how to pay bills, how to shop, how to make a phone call if they need something, and just on and on.
Your daughter is going to go out in the world and be a leader. And YOU have given her that.
Wow, so scary... I can't even imagine my babies going off to college.
I wish my parents had taught me to take care of myself and value my health. :)
On an off topic, I saw somewhere that you made whole wheat tortillas. I've tried and failed so many times... do you have a good recipe?
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