My girl.

I will be the first to admit that I have it a little easy. Siobhan is, for the most part, a really good girl. She doesn't smoke,drink or do drugs. She has worked really hard at keeping her grades up this year. She doesn't skip classes or show up late. She is a good, loyal friend. She is fun and outgoing and makes a lot of friends. When the mood hits her she can be really helpful. Despite all these things I feel that there is a daily conflict. She pushes things, but isn't that kind of the job of a young adult? I give Siobhan a lot of freedom. I trust her and I pray that she will always make good choices and be a good person. I make rules for her safety. Some might think I let her get away with a lot or let her mature a little too fast.
Tonight I am reflecting on all this in the wake of a car crash that took the life of one of Siobhans friends this week. It has been on my mind all day. I pray for the mother, who survived the crash. I think of all the things that I would want to be able to say to my child if I knew it would be the last thing that day. Do I really want it to be about how messy her room was or how her attitude needs to change? No doubt there will be always be something for us to argue about but for tonight I am going to think about how lucky and grateful I am that I have a daughter to test me and to love me. And no matter how embarrassing I will continue to tell my kids that I love them at every parting.

Now, because I have been away so long I feel like I can't leave it on a sad, melancholy note, so here is this.......