Inspired by Baby Center blogger Melissa Byers. If you could enlighten your 18 year old self about what the future holds, what would you say?
Dear 18 year old self,
You have so much to learn. I know you think you have it all figured out, you have a plan; college, maybe military service, career, marriage, kids. That's not how its going to go. But, you'll find out what happens is even better. In ten or so year's time, you will have learned that success is not about the degree hanging on your wall, it is not about the job that you have or the friends that you've kept or made. It is not about the plans you've made or the failures that you have encountered. Its not about the money you make or the house you live in. No, in ten years you will have learned that your life, your success, is all about the four pairs of hands that hold your heart. They will be your whole world. And you will be theirs. You will be their sun and their moon. You will be the brightest star in their night sky. You will be their best friend and, at times, their worst enemy. You will be their rock, their hero, their confidant. You will be a teacher, a mentor, a nurse, a problem solver, a story teller, a fixer of things needing fixing. You will love them so much that it will make you cry. You will love them so much that you will wonder constantly if you are doing it "right". The answer will be no and also yes. It will be an honor and privilege to be called their mother. You will marry the love of your life, and he will give you everything. He will be right there beside you, holding your hand, encouraging you, loving you, telling you you're beautiful. You should believe him. He will work hard so that you can stay home to raise your children, and all that he will ever ask in return is that you love him back. Just when you think you have the mothering thing down, and have learned all the tricks, you will be blessed with a little boy whose spirit is too large to be contained by his small body. He will be wild. He will be loud and intense and stubborn. He will run and jump and climb. He will scream and fight and yell. And he will love you so intensely that when he throws his chubby arms around your neck the world will stop spinning and angels will sing, and all that will be heard is the thumping of your heart in your chest. And it will only last a moment before he is squirming to be let go. You will learn more from your children than you could ever learn in any school. They will bring more sunshine and laughter into your home than you could ever imagine even existed. They will be your light during your darkest days. They will give you purpose and meaning and direction. You will sacrifice everything for them, but it will not feel like sacrifice, it will feel like love, and you will learn that what you give them doesn't hold a light to what they give you. In the end, it will not matter that boy friends broke you heart, friends moved away, plans were not kept. You will learn to trust God. You will learn that you father was right about everything, he is a smart man, tell him you love him. You will learn that your sister will be your best friend forever. Walk through life with a smile on your face. You have a lot to smile about! You will have a beautiful life.
With Love,
Me, 13 years later
Dear 18 year old self,
You have so much to learn. I know you think you have it all figured out, you have a plan; college, maybe military service, career, marriage, kids. That's not how its going to go. But, you'll find out what happens is even better. In ten or so year's time, you will have learned that success is not about the degree hanging on your wall, it is not about the job that you have or the friends that you've kept or made. It is not about the plans you've made or the failures that you have encountered. Its not about the money you make or the house you live in. No, in ten years you will have learned that your life, your success, is all about the four pairs of hands that hold your heart. They will be your whole world. And you will be theirs. You will be their sun and their moon. You will be the brightest star in their night sky. You will be their best friend and, at times, their worst enemy. You will be their rock, their hero, their confidant. You will be a teacher, a mentor, a nurse, a problem solver, a story teller, a fixer of things needing fixing. You will love them so much that it will make you cry. You will love them so much that you will wonder constantly if you are doing it "right". The answer will be no and also yes. It will be an honor and privilege to be called their mother. You will marry the love of your life, and he will give you everything. He will be right there beside you, holding your hand, encouraging you, loving you, telling you you're beautiful. You should believe him. He will work hard so that you can stay home to raise your children, and all that he will ever ask in return is that you love him back. Just when you think you have the mothering thing down, and have learned all the tricks, you will be blessed with a little boy whose spirit is too large to be contained by his small body. He will be wild. He will be loud and intense and stubborn. He will run and jump and climb. He will scream and fight and yell. And he will love you so intensely that when he throws his chubby arms around your neck the world will stop spinning and angels will sing, and all that will be heard is the thumping of your heart in your chest. And it will only last a moment before he is squirming to be let go. You will learn more from your children than you could ever learn in any school. They will bring more sunshine and laughter into your home than you could ever imagine even existed. They will be your light during your darkest days. They will give you purpose and meaning and direction. You will sacrifice everything for them, but it will not feel like sacrifice, it will feel like love, and you will learn that what you give them doesn't hold a light to what they give you. In the end, it will not matter that boy friends broke you heart, friends moved away, plans were not kept. You will learn to trust God. You will learn that you father was right about everything, he is a smart man, tell him you love him. You will learn that your sister will be your best friend forever. Walk through life with a smile on your face. You have a lot to smile about! You will have a beautiful life.
With Love,
Me, 13 years later
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