On her own terms

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you as a parent does not involve having your kid graduate or learn to drive a car or win a contest or pass a test.

Sometimes it’s not about anything you have helped her do, or taught her or provided for her.

Sometimes it’s not about telling her what she should do, advice being a poor substitute for learning through experience.

Sometimes there is nothing for you to do but wait and watch, which is of course the hardest thing of all. So hard not to lend a hand or a word. Soul wrenching not to help.

Sometimes the kid really does surpass the parent who at her age would never have stood up and said enough of this.

Sometimes you just have to trust. And when it turns out the trust was well placed, now that is a moment!

She stood up for herself, drew a line she would not allow to be crossed. Because beyond the line was the land of herself and it turns out she loves herself enough to protect her borders.

She makes me so proud. This one was not interested in being what she needed even as he insisted she fulfill his needs, so this one had to go away. There will be others, but only on her terms.

She will shape a life that works for her, which is of course the only way it can ever work for a future them.

She gets it and she is courageous.

Sometimes the best thing a parent can do is believe.

So proud.