It has absolutely been a madhouse around here. Lots of things going on all at once. One of the most exciting things is that our oldest graduated with her masters degree in occupational therapy.
We are so proud of her! She has worked so hard to get here. She is the typical oldest daughter of the family. She has high hopes and high standards and high expectations. She sets a goal, makes a plan, and then executes it. When she was an undergrad, she decided to be an RA to help out with college costs. Then she worked as a bartender, to pay her way through grad school all by herself. She never had to take out a student loan! I don’t know many college grads that can say that. She is super frugal, and I like to think that she got that from me.
Her mom and dad divorced before she started kindergarten. I entered her life when she was around 11 or 12 years old. From our very first meeting, i’ve always known that she was a “good kid“. Keeping her grades up while participating in a very strenuous club volleyball schedule. Always with a part-time job to try to save her own money. Working as an RA during undergrad at IU. Mission trips to Haiti, Ghana, and Costa Rica. Involvement in extracurriculars and intramurals. Leadership and top GPA awards in grad school.
We have never worried about this kid. She has surpassed all of our hopes and expectations. She was the easy kid. Setting higher standards for herself than we ever could. And while she is so serious about her goals and plans, she can be so fun! She is still a kid at heart and loves spending her free time playing games and watching kid movies. She is a pleasant mix of hard work and hard play!
Growing up she never said “You’re not my mom.” Although we have argued at times about the temperature the thermostat is set on. L O L. She has always respected me as her stepmom. And I have always been very intentional about not trying to replace her own mother. I think we have a very special relationship. As she has grown into a young adult, she’s even supported me through some of my hard times.
Even though she is not of my DNA, I like to think of her as mine. I love you E so much. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for you!
