The most rewarding part of being a mother is watching your kids grow into their own unique self knowing that I played a part. It’s in the little moments when they come to me for comfort, when they trust me with their thoughts, or when I see values that I’ve tried to teach them show up in their actions. Being their safe place, their support system, and their biggest cheerleader is what’s important to me. Even on the hard days, the love we share and the bond we’ve built make it all worth it.

It’s that love isn’t just a feeling but something you show over and over everyday, even in the hard days. It’s patience when I’m exhausted, Understanding when I don’t have all the answers, and showing up no matter what. It’s taught me that I can’t control everything and can’t protect my kids from hardships, but I can guide them, support them, and give them a safe space. I’ve learned the most powerful thing I can do is listen, be present, and let them grow into who they are meant to be.

My daughter is graduating in a few months and will be traveling back and forth to college and she doesn’t have a vehicle at the moment. I’d invest in a reliable car to safely get here there and back. Making sure she has dependable transportation would give me so much peace of mind and help her take the next steps to independence. I’d also pay my school loans that I need to pay off to graduate from college myself. I graduate in July!