An open letter to my Babygirl as she gets ready to graduate high school
May 2016
Dear Erika Nichole,
Graduation is coming! We are about 10 days away! Hard to believe, isn't it? Since I can’t buy you a brand new car for graduation or take you to Disney as a graduation present (which is what I really wish I could have done!!!), what I can do is this. I can
write to you. I can put my feelings and thoughts into words. Writing comes
easier than finding the money to buy you all you deserve in life. And sometimes a little note means more than material things, right?First and foremost, I love you more than words could ever convey. You are MY daughter, and I am constantly in awe and amazed by you. Always and forever, to the moon and back. There have been so many times over the years that I’ve wished I had more to offer you than simply my pride and love. I know you don’t mind that, but still, it is my wish. Along with your sister, you are one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
In a few short days you will be graduating from PHS, something your grandmother did 50 years ago, I did 25 years ago, your uncle did 20 years ago, and your sister did 7 years ago. It truly doesn’t seem that long ago that I walked you up the hill to the town bus stop and watched as you boarded the big yellow bus and headed off to Kindergarten. Where has the time gone? As much as I thought I was ready, I realize I am NOT prepared for this day, and yet here it comes.
It has been so much fun watching you grow up, try new things, and live your life to the fullest. You’ve done so many things that have made me insanely proud to call you MY daughter. I’ve enjoyed taking this journey with you, although I wish the path wasn’t as hard as it sometimes was. We’ve been through a lot, you and me, but yet, here we are…..almost ready for you to take the next big leap into adulthood. I’d like to think that some of the adventures we've taken, the people we've met along the way and the awesome places I have had the privilege of sharing with you had an impact on you and helped shape you into the amazing person you are today. I also believe that our amazing family has had some positive examples for you as well, starting with your incredible older sister.
In the past 7 years, since Alyssa went off to school and left us to grow together, I seemed to have blinked and somehow missed the part where you stopped being my little girl (although you will ALWAYS be my Babygirl) and started becoming a young adult, and it yet, here you are, 18 and all grown up, about to graduate high school. The young woman I see before me is really an amazing person with a bright future ahead of her, and I will do everything in my power to help see to it you stay that way!!
As you prepare to head off to college, and start living life without me right by your side, there are a few things I need you to know: no matter what anyone ever says, you are perfect just exactly as you are; you have a perseverance about you that is admirable, you just NEVER give up and that is a great trait to have, especially with what you will be studying in college; there is a whole new world out there! Don’t be afraid to go and explore it; do what makes you happy! Find your passions and do them; and always trust the little voice in your head when it speaks to you, it's your very own Jiminy Cricket...your voice of reason!
Life is about to get very real for you. I won’t always be right there to tell you what to do….but I’ll always be a phone call, text message, email away. While I can’t buy you all that you deserve, I can give you all my love, unconditionally, for the rest of your life. I love you right up to the moon……and back.
I am so proud of you and I cannot wait to see what your future holds for you.
Love,
Mom
