Guest blogger — my oldest daughter
October 17, 2007 | Filed under: Stuff
Today’s blog is from my oldest daughter, who’s getting ready to go off to college and trying to deal with all the changes that come with that. She writes:
What is there to do when your world is rushing by faster than anything you’ve ever experienced. When adulthood is just around the corner and its so close you can feel the freedom encasing you like the sun creeping in at dawn, yet you cling to the familiarity of youth and protection of your family. The world is screaming, “ready set…. go!” but all you can bring yourself to do is mutter feebly “wait…”. Doors are opening all around, new choices and paths leading to places never before envisioned and you are standing on the brink, the very cliff you’ve been on the edge of for years. You have traveled to this place before, often grazing the perimeter of the cliff, testing your boundaries and forming a slight understanding of the possibilities that lay ahead, but you’ve never experienced this before. There is no longer someone by your side, no longer a hand to hold, all that is left is a distant voice saying “seize it”. These are the last and final moments of childhood and there you are, on the brink ready to stretch your wings and explore “life” for the first time. Adrenaline is pumping into your veins; the independence that has been imagined and idolized for eighteen years is finally engulfing you. You are being liberated yet stifled at the same time. Your life is now your choice, whichever path you may take but this unfaltering wave of autonomy is suffocating you. Timid thoughts fill your head as the realization that you are on your own enters. Ties can be cut, yet you are clutching relentlessly to the bonds that still hold you. Your mother and father are behind you, whispering faintly to take that final step, the final step towards finding yourself and where you belong. Your whole life you have had someone there, someone guiding you and teaching you right from wrong but now you are in control of your thoughts and your actions. A glance back gives the assurance that you can do it. You face the cliff, embracing all that is to come, all that will be your future and all that will be your past. Capturing the last breath of air from familiar surroundings you take your last step. Your life is you own now and you hold the key to your happiness but never forget that when you take that brief glance back, you will always have a place to call home.
Posted by Jill @ 1:01 am | Make a Comment
Alicia says:
Wow – what a moving piece! And so very true of what I imagine most teens feel.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 2:04 amJudy F says:
Oh that was awesome. Another writer in the family.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 2:45 amDru says:
oh my, that is so beautiful.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 3:33 amCheryl S. says:
Jill and hubby . . . you’ve done a great job raising her. Jill’s daughter . . . you’re going to be just fine in that big world out there. You’ve got beauty and intelligence.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 4:36 amkris says:
That was beautiful!! :yes:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 5:16 amKimberly AKA Problem Child says:
As a Freshman Comp teacher, I’d welcome writing like that in my class!
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 5:37 amErin says:
Beautiful.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:17 amAngie T says:
Ah Grasshopper, very well put!
And as someone who has recently gone through this with spawn #1, completely understandable. This is the one time in your life when you really do have the proverbial “clean slate.” Major props to you for knowing yourself so well. :thumbsup:
And Jill, she is truly a beautiful young woman. You and the DH are to be congratulated. Children are, after all, a reflection on their parents! :yes:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:56 amAmy M says:
Jill and daughter,
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 8:08 amWOW! That was so beautifully said. Change is very hard and passing across that imaginary line from childhood to adulthood is scary yet liberating. Your entire life you have had choices made for you, but yet as you leave high school and enter college, the choices become your very own. You will do so very well daughter #1. Jill and DH, you have to be so very proud. Pat yourself on the back, get the Kleenex ready and know that you have done an excellent job.
Jeanne C says:
Congratulations to you and your husband, Jill. You must be so proud. Your daughter is beautiful both inside and out.I hope there is some connection to writing in her future since she does it so well. #1 daughter, you have so beautifully verbalized what so many teens go through every year. Good luck with your future plans.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 8:23 amPatty L. says:
What a beautifully moving piece. I have a neice and nephew both graduating this year and from the conversations that I have had with them, this sentiment seems to run through most young adults as their facing the rest of their lives.
Jill you should feel so proud and overwhelmed by the growth and maturity that your daughter has. Great job raising such a wonderful and intelligent daughter. :thumbsup:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 8:40 amShirley says:
Aw, that had me reaching for the Kleenex. That was beautiful. You must be very proud of your lovely daughter, Jill. Congratulations to you and hubby for doing such a good job, and all best wishes to your daughter for her future. (I bet she ends up as another writer…)
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:11 amGena says:
I shed a few tears. She looks beautiful as always.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:18 amKate Hardy says:
Jill’s daughter – best of luck with college and from that beautiful piece of writing :thumbsup: it looks as if you’ve inherited your mum’s talent there. If you’ve inherited her lovely personality too, you’ll be just fine.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:27 amCryna says:
That was said so beautifully. Thank you both for sharing with us.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:46 amSusan says:
Absolutely lovely! :yes:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 9:49 amBailey Stewart says:
Not only is she beautiful and intelligent, she’s insightful too. I think she’s going to be just fine.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 10:54 amLis says:
Beautifully written #1 :thumbsup:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 11:55 amAllie says:
What a lovely piece of writing!
She’s going to do great.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 12:19 pmDonna M says:
Daughter #1, that is very eloquent. You have a wonderful talent for saying what most teen at your stage in life are thinking and feeling. Remember, whatever choices you make now & in the future will be based on the values your parents have given you. There will be some faltering along the way but you know that Mom & Dad are always there for you no matter how old you are or what choices you decide.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 12:20 pmJill & DH your buttons must be bursting with pride. Daughter #1 is proof that you have good parenting skills. Whatever she decides to do with life I think she will be very successful. What a wonderful, beautiful daughter.
Very sincerely,
Donna M
spyscribbler says:
Wow, you’ve got chops when it comes to writing! Your mom will probably hate me for saying this (sorry), but leap off the cliff. Take all the crazy risks (but be safe!) and pursue every dream and wish you have. If you’re not occasionally scared by the uncertainty of new things and new risks, then you’re not being brave enough.
You’re gonna have a blast in college!
(Great picture, too.)
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 1:05 pmEllen says:
Lovely sentiment. *sniff* What a warm, intelligent, (and pretty) young lady. She’ll do great “out there”.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 3:09 pmHeather says:
That was wonderfully written, and the senior picture is beautiful. Much success as she finishes high school and prepares for college!
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 3:26 pmkim h says:
they grow up so fast. good luck
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 4:30 pmBrandy says:
What an eloquent piece of writing. Best of luck for Daughter in her future. You did good, Jill!
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pmPat L. says:
Very pretty young woman and a very well written piece. Wonder where she gets it from? LOL. I wish her the best.
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 5:07 pmToni Anderson says:
Very eloquent and full of thoughts and dreams.
Hope she has a wonderful time!
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:05 pmjeanne says:
Everyone has already said it but she’s gorgeous and it too brought tears to my eyes. :love:
Posted on October 17th, 2007 at 6:28 pmCarolyn A. says:
I know everyone above has said the same, but I was really moved by daughter #1′s essay. It was very touching. She has quite a gift. I wish her the best of luck in the future.
Posted on October 18th, 2007 at 6:35 amShelly says:
{{tears of admiration}}
It is comforting to know that there are such amazing, gifted, intelligent young women in the world who are our very future. Follow your heart and it will always lead you to the right places and know that you have many, many people who love and support you and have your back no matter what path you choose.
Wishing you all the very best on your journey.
Posted on October 18th, 2007 at 8:01 amBe a Good Daughter says:
Great article.
Posted on October 22nd, 2007 at 9:39 pmI am sure you’ll check out my diary..
Sayonara
Lori says:
WOW!!! How very deep and well written. I don’t remember being that well put together at her age. My thoughts were more along the line of how fast can I get my own apartment and then not moving until I was 20 and met my future husband!
She is absolutely beautiful and I love, love, love her hair color!
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