I am sure that most mothers believe their daughter is the most special, most beautiful, most successful daughter in the world. I am certainly no different. When my daughter arrived 30 years ago, she changed my life completely, in ways I would never have imagined. And I am so grateful for the journey, the adventure, of being her mom. It has been such a privilege.
It hasn't always been easy, mind you. Her personality is, in some ways, very different from mine, and like all children do, she has forced me to stretch and grow beyond my safe and comfortable boundaries. First and foremost, she is fun - everyone knows the party starts when she walks into a room. I, on the other hand, am pretty boring (and I'm good with that.) Where I am naturally reserved and quiet, she is boistrous and outgoing. Where I prefer to remain safely inside the box, she is always redefining the edges and pushing for more space. I like to let things play out, she wants to set the terms of every situation. Learning to navigate life with a child who is so different can be complicated, especially when they are fearless teenagers. But it is never, ever dull! And life with my daughter has always been an adventure.
And yet, she is like me in many ways, as well, which are becoming more evident as she matures into her life as wife, mother, and business owner. She is musical. She is a genuinely gifted writer. She is caring and thoughtful and sensitive to the feelings of others. She lives her faith. She is an entrepreneur (much more successfully, I might add, than her mother.) She loves to cook, too, something I like to think both my kids learned from time in the kitchen with me while they were growing up.
She also has many qualities I admire, very much. She is a beautiful young woman, yet she isn't vain, and stays focused on the things that bring inner beauty. She is so driven, and works harder than anyone I know to make whatever she is working on be the very best it can be. She makes everything more fun, just by being present. She is determined not to let anything hold her back, no matter how high the barrier. She has overcome many obstacles in life, starting with her premature birth, and used every experience as a positive stepping stone to something better.
I could talk about her qualities all day long, but I think it is enough to say that when I stand at this benchmark of 30 years of watching her grow and live and learn and love, I am proud of who she is beyond any expectations I might have ever had when she was born and growing up. She has certainly made me a better person for having raised her, and I am indeed blessed to call her my daughter.
Wishing my Erin Rose the happiest of birthdays on February 28. You have exceeded every hope and dream and expectation I might have had. I cannot imagine life without you, and I am forever grateful that you burst onto the scene on that sunny day 30 years ago. You are precious to me in ways I cannot even articulate, and I look forward to the next 30 years to see where you go and what you do next.
I love you forever and for always. Mama
