Where has the time gone?
Well, since it's after 11:00 PM, I guess I can't put it off any longer. I finally have to acknowledge in writing what I've been dealing with all day. Somehow, in what must surely be a rupture in the space-time continuum, my oldest child turned 18 years old today. I can look at the year on the calendar and do the math from the year she was born, but it just doesn't seem like 18 years have already gone by. In just a few more months, my first born, the child that redefined the word responsibility for me, will be leaving for college. And yet, in my memories, I can still clearly see her wearing only a diaper standing at the sliding glass door of our town house in Morgan Hill, CA pointing at the hot air balloons going by saying, "Look, Daddy! Boons!" She will always be that child in my heart, no matter how old we both become.
Of course, there were struggles between then and now. Anyone that has raised a teenager can understand that. She's also had to deal with some things that most kids don't have to. However, the good times have way outnumbered the bad times and I consider myself blessed to have had such a wonderful first child. (The second one is pretty wonderful, too!)
I don't know what the future holds for her. Hell, with the way the economy is today, I don't really know what the future holds for any of us. But I do know that she has grown into a smart, resourceful young woman and she will be able to find her way on her own when the time comes. My wish for her is that she finds something that she can be passionate about in her career. If you love what you're doing, it doesn't really feel so much like work.
I also wish for her to find a special someone to share her life with. That doesn't have to happen right away, of course, but eventually it will. She's not had to go through any major heartbreaks yet. I sincerely hope she never will. On the other hand, I hope she's learned enough from us to recognize when it's better for her in the long run to suffer some heartbreak rather than stay in a toxic relationship.
The celebration today started with a french toast and assorted fruits for breakfast. Then we presented her with her present, a shiny new Sony Vaio laptop for her to take to college. She seemed rather pleased with it. Later in the day, we had lunch of macaroni and cheese (Kraft and at her request, for the record) and other stuff. For dinner, we took her to The Melting Pot where we gorged ourselves on a cheese fondue, salads, and chocolate fondue for dessert. It was quite a nice little day long celebration.
Happy 18th Birthday, Mary! I love you very much and I'm very proud of the young adult you've grown into.
Of course, there were struggles between then and now. Anyone that has raised a teenager can understand that. She's also had to deal with some things that most kids don't have to. However, the good times have way outnumbered the bad times and I consider myself blessed to have had such a wonderful first child. (The second one is pretty wonderful, too!)
I don't know what the future holds for her. Hell, with the way the economy is today, I don't really know what the future holds for any of us. But I do know that she has grown into a smart, resourceful young woman and she will be able to find her way on her own when the time comes. My wish for her is that she finds something that she can be passionate about in her career. If you love what you're doing, it doesn't really feel so much like work.
I also wish for her to find a special someone to share her life with. That doesn't have to happen right away, of course, but eventually it will. She's not had to go through any major heartbreaks yet. I sincerely hope she never will. On the other hand, I hope she's learned enough from us to recognize when it's better for her in the long run to suffer some heartbreak rather than stay in a toxic relationship.
The celebration today started with a french toast and assorted fruits for breakfast. Then we presented her with her present, a shiny new Sony Vaio laptop for her to take to college. She seemed rather pleased with it. Later in the day, we had lunch of macaroni and cheese (Kraft and at her request, for the record) and other stuff. For dinner, we took her to The Melting Pot where we gorged ourselves on a cheese fondue, salads, and chocolate fondue for dessert. It was quite a nice little day long celebration.
Happy 18th Birthday, Mary! I love you very much and I'm very proud of the young adult you've grown into.