A Tribute to my Biggest Life Change

35 years ago today, my life changed dramatically. I thought I knew what I was getting into; after all, I was the eldest of eight children. It's not like I didn't know the drill. Had I really known, I would have been even more grateful than I was at the time. Yes, as of today, my daughter Rebecca has graced my life for the last 3-1/2 decades.

So to you, Rebecca, I raise the chalice of gratitude for teaching me
the power of unconditional love – I hadn't known I was that clueless;
but watching you breathing, so tiny and fragile, my chest ached with
fullness. I was both intimidated by the fierceness of my love and humbled by the miracle of your being. I didn't know I could love that way. I didn't know anyone could.

Thank you for teaching me about serenity – your innate sense of knowing who you are and who you are not. Part of your serenity has been honed by your patient waiting for me to wake up – to get that every one of our power struggles was initiated by me. That lesson wasn't an easy one for me, but I did get it.

If you were not my daughter, I would seek you out and want to be your friend. I trust your integrity, I feel healed by your genuinely kind heart, I am lifted by your lightness and especially delighted by your cocky sense of humor. I treasure your honesty, admire your steady pursuit of your goals, appreciate your awareness of the most subtle shifts in people …. I consider myself to be the most blessed of mothers to have you so integrated into my life. And further blessed by those you bring into my life – especially Troy, Hayleigh and Chase, as well as the friends you have garnered along the way. They are easy to love.

I am proud of the woman you have become – and proud of the journey you made to be who you are today. I was always a bit afraid that I could never love another child as much as I love you.

PS Rebecca is the one on the right, with her college friend, Julie Hale – this pic taken a few weeks ago.