It isn’t just one moment, it’s an evolving, layered experience that changes over time. It’s the deep sense of connection and meaning that comes from watching a human being develop, knowing you played a central role in shaping their world. It’s not always easy, and it’s definitely not perfect. The most rewarding part is that blend of love, growth, and connection that builds over time. Something that’s uniquely deep and lasts a lifetime.

Learning that you can’t control everything, and that’s okay. It pushes you to let go of perfection, adapt constantly, and meet your child where you are. It also teaches patience in a deeper way than most experiences. You learn to slow down, to listen, and to respond with understanding instead of reaction. It shows you how strong and selfless you can be, while also reminding you that you still need care, grace, and compassion for yourself too.

I would use the money in invest in my kids and their futures. I have one that will soon be off to college and this would be an immense help. With our current living situation in limbo, it would also help to ensure a continued safe place to live. I would love have some family outings as those are hard to come by these days as we have experienced a lot of medical bills over the past few years. This will allow us to make memories that will last a lifetime and create moments we will always cherish.