This week my daughter took ME to dinner & a concert & showed me some of her favorite places. We don’t see each other as often as we’d like these days, and it was so fun hanging out with her in her area and seeing her way of life, her being true to herself. 😃🦋

Since my kids have gotten older and get more & more independent (yay!), I’ve honestly struggled a bit with finding purpose and meaning. This is probably common for many.

I had kids so young that I was never really an adult without others to care for. In addition to helping take care of all the little ones around when I was growing up…

We’re all constantly playing roles. It can be a scary, shaking, and also freeing experience to step out of those roles that are all we’ve ever known.

I love babies & the little years (Shh, I always forget how much I like sleep!😂) Being a mom came very naturally to me in the early years. As difficult as it sometimes was, I loved it.🥰

I happen to think four-year-olds are often the wisest people, and kids are the most fun to explore the world with. They have eyes of wonder and are naturally in a state of creative, innocent play. They make honest observations.

We can all learn from this.

For me it’s been more difficult to parent when they don’t need you as much in certain ways (teenage years can be brutal), but you still feel responsible and want to help and guide them.

These days I encourage my kids to just be who they are, do what they want, and be happy. It took a lot of stressful, tearful, fighting years to get here! It’s a good place to be, not having expectations for your offspring other than wanting them to be happy and fulfilled in life.

But some thoughts and feelings have come up like:

What do I do with all this love?

Where do I direct it?

What is for the highest good?

I am finding purpose & meaning again in other ways now, but it is also so cool and rewarding to see your kid turn into an amazing, independent person on their own, living the life they want to live! A cool adult you actually want to be around! 🤣

Make more kids!

Love them for who they are!

Let them teach YOU some things.

🥰🦋😃