I turned 44 on August 20th and celebrated the only way I know how… with sugar. 😆 I started the day with a frosted butterfly sugar cookie.🦋 The sweetest little reminder that even when life feels uncertain, there are still signs of hope and new beginnings all around us.
If there’s one thing I’ve been reminded of this past week, it’s that we’re never as alone as we think we are. I shared recently on Instagram about moving my daughter into her dorm… and then moving her right back out just two days later. It was a bit scary to put that out there, but what I got back in return was overwhelming in the best way.❤️
The messages started pouring in… stories from so many of you about your own kids leaving school, taking gap years, moving back home, changing direction, or still figuring it all out. You shared about the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the panic attacks, and the quiet grieving of the picture you once held for your child. And you also shared what came after… new jobs, new passions, healing, thriving. Some of you even said it turned out to be the best detour your child ever took.
And then there was another layer so many of you admitted, that sting. The sting of scrolling and seeing smiling kids in dorm pics, proud parents, milestone moments you wanted so badly for your own. And then that second sting… the guilt for even feeling envious in the first place. I can’t tell you how much it meant to hear that from you. It made me feel less alone, less “crazy” for carrying those same feelings quietly myself.
So thank you. Truly. Reading your comments, stories, and messages has been a gift. This community feels like an extended family, and being reminded that none of us are walking through this life alone means more than I can say. Big hug to every single one of you. Thank you for being real, for showing up, and for reminding me that there’s still so much good that can come out of social media.
