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in General · December 8, 2021

Dear Daughter, One Day We Will Be Friends But Not Today

Dear daughter, I hope one day we can be friends.

I hope one day we have more discussions than arguments, conversations than fights, laughs than lectures.

I hope one day you understand that I am always on your side, always cheering you on, always believing in you.

I hope one day you understand that your joy is my joy and your pain is my pain. I hope we can have long conversations about your hopes and fears, your dreams and your failures. I hope we can laugh until we cry. I hope we can hug to ease each other’s burdens.

I hope one day you understand that disappointing you is hard for me, that I crave your attention, that I would do anything to keep you safe.

I hope one day I see you become a mother yourself, and I have a front-row seat to watch the joy your child brings to you. I hope I can give you useful advice. I hope you ask for my help.

But most of all, I hope one day we can be friends.

Today is not that day, sweet girl.

It might not be this week or even this year.

Today I’m not your friend, but I will always be your mother. Sometimes I can be both, but not today.

Today I show my love by setting boundaries and limits.

Today I show my love by saying no.

Today I love you enough to let you fail, to not give in to your every whim, to withstand the barbs you throw at me.

Today I question your choices, your screen time, your social media. I want to trust you but I am not yet sure if you are trustworthy.

And at the end of each day, no matter what wars we have battled, my hope never changes—I hope one day you know my love for you never wavered, I tried my best, and I’m so proud to be your mother.

But most of all, dear daughter, I hope one day we can be the best of friends.

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whitneyflemingwrites

Formerly playdatesonfridays • mom of 3 teens • sharing stories so others feel less alone • work @parentingteensandtweens Get my book ⬇️ link in bio

Whitney Fleming
I try to remind my kids of this all the time. Have I try to remind my kids of this all the time. Have your best life by living it, not by showing it on social media. The more you are posting your highlights, the more I start wondering what's behind that social media curtain. From the very wise @stevebartlettsc
Remember when you thought 40 was old???? Via @cono Remember when you thought 40 was old???? Via @conorotool
I know it's hard to believe, but mom always knows! I know it's hard to believe, but mom always knows! From my friend @msawesomemother 😂😂
I thought I would cry at my twin daughters' high s I thought I would cry at my twin daughters' high school graduation yesterday. And I did.

But not for the reasons I felt the last few weeks as I watched everything coming to an end.

I cried because I saw so much joy.

Joy in the embrace of an 81-year-old grandmother getting to see another baby graduate.

Joy in the faces of other parents who weren't sure they would get to this point.

Joy in the remarks of teachers who saw their hard work pay off.

And joy--so much joy--in the bright smiles of teenagers who felt accomplished, who felt excitement, who felt ready to take on what's next.

My heart is still sad for what was. I loved this part of my life, and I will feel grief that it is over.

Time will heal my sorrow, but I can live in joy today.

There is a cycle to parenthood that we all experience differently. There are periods of time we wish would move faster and moments we wish would never end.

And sometimes in a sea of emotions, we can choose joy.

Because it's all around us if we open our eyes to see it. 

*I hope you will check out my new book! Link is in my bio.

#graduation2023 #lettinggo #lovinghardwhentheyrehardtolove
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whitneyflemingwrites

Formerly playdatesonfridays • mom of 3 teens • sharing stories so others feel less alone • work @parentingteensandtweens Get my book ⬇️ link in bio

Whitney Fleming
I try to remind my kids of this all the time. Have I try to remind my kids of this all the time. Have your best life by living it, not by showing it on social media. The more you are posting your highlights, the more I start wondering what's behind that social media curtain. From the very wise @stevebartlettsc
Remember when you thought 40 was old???? Via @cono Remember when you thought 40 was old???? Via @conorotool
I know it's hard to believe, but mom always knows! I know it's hard to believe, but mom always knows! From my friend @msawesomemother 😂😂
I thought I would cry at my twin daughters' high s I thought I would cry at my twin daughters' high school graduation yesterday. And I did.

But not for the reasons I felt the last few weeks as I watched everything coming to an end.

I cried because I saw so much joy.

Joy in the embrace of an 81-year-old grandmother getting to see another baby graduate.

Joy in the faces of other parents who weren't sure they would get to this point.

Joy in the remarks of teachers who saw their hard work pay off.

And joy--so much joy--in the bright smiles of teenagers who felt accomplished, who felt excitement, who felt ready to take on what's next.

My heart is still sad for what was. I loved this part of my life, and I will feel grief that it is over.

Time will heal my sorrow, but I can live in joy today.

There is a cycle to parenthood that we all experience differently. There are periods of time we wish would move faster and moments we wish would never end.

And sometimes in a sea of emotions, we can choose joy.

Because it's all around us if we open our eyes to see it. 

*I hope you will check out my new book! Link is in my bio.

#graduation2023 #lettinggo #lovinghardwhentheyrehardtolove
Teen boys crack me up! Follow @themotheroctopus Teen boys crack me up! Follow @themotheroctopus
It may sting, but at least they are honest! Follow It may sting, but at least they are honest! Follow @grownandflown
Just not sure what kind of morning it is..... Just not sure what kind of morning it is.....
It's probably going to take a few years.... Follo It's probably going to take a few years....

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Whitney Fleming Writes

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