The most rewarding part about being a mom is watching him react to situations and speak on them with kindness, strength, and thoughtfulness and knowing I had a hand in shaping that. I’m raising him with all the things I didn’t receive: love, patience, support, and presence. Watching him become his own person, while knowing I helped create a safe space for that growth, is the most beautiful part of this journey.

One of my favorite memories is watching him proudly show me something he created, knowing it was a piece of his heart (only a mom understands that it could be the tiniest thing to many others, something that might look like nothing to anyone else, but to me, it’s everything). The fact that he chose to share that with me and was so proud of what he made is one of the joys I get from him every day. I’ll never forget those moments and will never take them for granted.

If I had $20K, I’d put some aside for him in an account where it could grow for his future. Then, I’d use the rest as a down payment on our ‘forever home’, a place where we’ll build even more memories together and create a stable, loving foundation for the years to come!