I have exciting news to share! Miss 17 Year Old is turning 18 today! Wow!, I can’t believe that my first born child is an adult today. I have been feeling a little melancholy about it all week long. For some reason this birthday is affecting me more than any other. It is the beginning of her adult life. She is going to start making her own decisions more and more. And I am going to have less and less control over what happens in her life. I am not ready to let go of that yet.
But I remember how I felt when I was her age, don’t you? So full of hope for the future and excited to finally feel like a grown up. So ready to graduate high school and go to college, and be on my own for the first time! I know that she is feeling all of these same things right now.
I am so happy for her and I am so very proud of the young woman that she has become. Always making good choices. Never afraid to be her own person. Believing it is OK to be weird. This daughter of mine is definitely a leader, not a follower. She has such strong morals and high values and expectations. She is kind, she is devastatingly gorgeous, she has mad singing talent, and she is just such a wonderful girl.
There has never been a day in her life that she has done anything but make me proud. I have never had a single bad report from any of her teachers. She has never been in one ounce of trouble. Unlike other teenagers, she has chosen not to drink, not to smoke, not to experiment with drugs, not to have sex, and not to go to parties where things like this are going on. Basically, she has never given me a single reason not to trust her.
I don’t know how I did it. How did I raise this girl to be the person she is today? I certainly was not a perfect mother, and I was not nearly as good as she is when I was her age. We won’t go into all of that though, Ha! She has a father who has never been there for her since the age of 4. That hurt her in a way that no one, not even I, can even imagine. She was diagnosed with ADHD in the 8th grade. But in spite of everything, she is going to graduate with a 3.5 GPA. She has been awarded enough scholarships to pay her tuition to go to college.
I stand here today, and when I look at my daughter, I am so amazed by the woman that she is. I have no doubt in my mind that she will achieve great things. I know in my heart just how special she is. And I know that someone out there somewhere is going to figure that out too, and she will be on her way!
She plans to go to West Virginia University and major in fashion merchandising and design. And if you knew her, you would know just how perfect fashion is for her. The girl has mad style! She is artsy, creative, unique, and she goes against the grain. I believe she will have a future in the fashion industry if she truly wants it.
To Delaney, every single day that I have been your mother has been a dream come true. And now that you are becoming an adult, it is my hope that we will not only be mother and daughter, but we will be friends. The very best of friends. And like I have said a thousand times, no one else in this world will ever love you like I do, or ever want what is best for you as much as I do.
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| The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. |
My advice to you today is to go out there in this big world and be Delaney Paige Marsh. Be you! Follow your dreams, never lose sight of your passions, never settle for less than you deserve, and never be afraid to shine a little brighter.
Sometimes the right decision is the hardest one to make. Make it anyway.
Always remember that nothing is worth it if you aren’t happy.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, they are a part of life.
Always, always, always – Be CLASSY!
And always , always, always – Keep God in Your Heart.
In the happy moments, praise God. In the difficult moments, seek God. In the quiet moments, trust God. And in every moment, thank God.
I thank God for entrusting you into my care for the past 18 years Delaney. Being your mother has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter.
Love Always,
Mommy
Now, to everyone who is reading this post today, in honor of Miss 18 Year Old, show her a little love and blow my comments up with happy birthday wishes! Any advice for a young woman ready to go out into the world? Give it! I would love to see this post get more comments than any other post I have ever written, in honor of my daughter.
Link Parties:
Wednesday:
Savvy Southern Style
Friday:
Freedom Fridays
Style elixir
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