They grow up so quickly...

We all hear that saying from those older than us as they reflect back on their children and how they've grown, and now here I am doing the same.

I look at my daughter and can not believe she will be a Junior in college next year!  How did that happen when I can remember so clearly taking her to pre-school or volunteering at her elementary school?  How did she end up all grown up in what seems like the blink of an eye?

It seems as though her leaving for college changed our entire relationship! Her first year I cried constantly as we drove away from visits, worried constantly and didn't know how to deal with this loss.  I felt like I was losing another child, adding to the worry she had recently gone through a break up.  So much was changing in both of our lives and it seemed like I was on the phone with her or my girlfriends non-stop!

Things got worse before they got better, but then suddenly it was as if a storm had just passed and all was calm.  Things got easier, life got easier and I started to realize sometimes we go through these storms to teach us things, to change us.... refined by fire (like my girlfriend told me)

Like the book The tipping point, things started to change, her outlook began changing after her trip to California and when she returned, life began with a new normal.

And now another school year has passed and she is another year older and a lot wiser!  Her grades have improved drastically, she has dreams and goals and is excited for her future.  And finally I don't feel like I'm losing my daughter, I feel like I've made a new friend, and I'm loving this stage!

Oh sure, we still disagree on some things, I don't think we'd be normal if we didn't.  But now we have the same ambition in running and cheer each other on as we each reach for another goal! And I realize that we have to go through some rough times to learn, to change and to become the person we were meant to be!

 She has a summer internship and two jobs, so I'm sure I won't get as much time with her as I would like.  But I know its just another step in making her the person she is meant to be!