
Today is election day and as I watch news reports, read headlines, and listen to conversations as I go about my day I see many different values, thoughts, feelings, and ideas being expressed. In a phone call with my daughter I realized that she would vote differently than I and it was a moment of hesitation in my mind. As a parent I have worked hard to teach my one and only daughter to think for herself, have her own thoughts, ideas, and feelings and trusted that her morals, values and character would grow from seeds I have planted along the way. So when I first heard this information I wanted to challenge her, but I stopped myself. In that moment of silence I simply said, okay. I realized that my job was done well, that my thoughts and opinions were not pushed upon her, that she had become the strong independent woman I wanted her to be, and that she was deciding for herself. I know my daughter is smart, loving, and capable, and a young woman with her own dreams for the future that may be very different than my own. I trust that any choices she makes moving forward is a choice that she is willing to take full responsibility for and some of the choices I may not agree with and that is okay. As my daughter transitions into adulthood I know that she is finding her own path and I am proud of her constant desire to learn, explore and grow. Division of child from parent is a good thing, it means you did your job and they are ready to leave the nest. Even if they may take a different path than the one you had planned for them, love them anyway. First a parent must give a child roots to grow and then we must give them wings to fly.
With love, health, and happiness,
Stacy