For the moms out there

Dear Mom,

I know you’re reading this, but this isn’t just for you (hence the public blog post). This is for all the stressed out moms of incoming seniors out there who are bombarded daily with thoughts varying from, “Why is [insert child’s name here] not thinking about college yet?” to  “I can’t believe my baby’s going to be gone soon.” Which, in my mother’s case, almost always leads to erratic mood swings and horrendously bipolar behavior ranging from not-so-subtle hints that I should start thinking about college to random and spontaneous “I love you, Jenny” and hugs.

Mom—I appreciate you, and I hope you realize this. I don’t always show it, and there’s no excuse for that. But I truly appreciate and love you and am forever grateful for how blessed I am to have been raised up to the ripe old age of 17 by such a wonderful figure like you (and dad. Hi dad.).

I know you’re incredibly stressed right now. I know how much you want to see me succeed—to send me off to a good college, to watch me grow as a person, to make the most of my life. I know you don’t want to see me miss a single opportunity. I know you don’t want me to make the same mistakes as you—but that’s the thing. I need to make my own mistakes, mom. I need to be able to do things myself, to succeed as well as fail, to have my heart broken, to face my own problems. Because the only way I’ll continue to learn and grow as a person is by making my own mistakes. You can’t shield me forever, trying to protect me from the pains of life. But don’t worry—I promise to always pick myself up after I fall, no matter how much it hurts.

No mother likes seeing her child struggle and in pain, but I’m 17 now. I’m practically (insert hair flip) an adult now.

So yes, I will start looking into colleges. And yes, I’ll try to look into ones that are near home. But please remember that even if I end up on the other side of the country, I will not change. You’ve raised me to be a good and honest person with values. And I won’t ever abandon those values or forget the things you’ve taught me. I will always be kind and try to maintain an open heart. I will always try my best. I won’t ever let life bring me down, no matter how hard it gets. And I’ll bloom—no matter where I’m planted.

For all the moms out there: don’t worry about us. Let go of us, little by little. Every mother wants the best for her child. But sometimes, you just have to let your kid steer her own path. Chances are, you’ve taught her well enough that she’ll find her way around even the biggest boulders.

Oh, one more thing, mom: I love you more than anything else in the world.

Yours forever,

Jenny