Growing Up

I think it finally hit my mom today that in less than 9 months I'll be graduated from high school. I met with a representative from Arizona State University at my school today. He talked about the campus and what the school had to offer and pretty much sold me the school. I am definitely going to apply there. They offer the major I want and everything. The best part about it is I meet all the requirements the school wants to get an acceptance.
When I told my mom about the idea of maybe attending the University, she wasn't too thrilled. Ever since the beginning of last year she's been telling me I'm not allowed to apply to out of state colleges because she'll miss me too much, so when I told her I was thinking about applying to ASU she wasn't happy. After I met with the rep I texted her everything he had told me and how California students get a discount in tuition since its a neighboring state and how all freshmen are required to live on campus the first year. Her response was simply "I don't want you to move away from me." I proceeded to tell her that the campus was only 6 hours away but she said "Anywhere that you are not sleeping under my roof every night is too far. You'll never come see me." I told her I would and that I loved her and thats where the conversation ended.
She wasn't home when I got home from school today. I walked into my room and there was a card sitting on my bed that said "For My Tootie Butt" written in her hand writing. I rolled my eyes and thought "oh lord this is gonna be such a drama queen card." I opened the card and this is what I read:

For My Beautiful Daughter

I looked at you today
and saw the same beautiful eyes
that looked at me with love
when you were a baby...

I looked at you today
and saw the same beautiful mouth
that made me cry when you
first smiled at me
when you were a baby...

It was not long ago
that I held you in my arms
long after you fell asleep
and I just kept rocking you
all night long...

I looked at you today
and saw my beautiful daughter
no longer a baby
but a beautiful person
with a full range of emotions,
feelings, ideas and goals...

Everyday is exciting
as I continue to watch you grow.
I want you to know that
in good and bad times
I will love you
and that no matter what you do
or how you think
or what you say
you can depend on
my support, guidance,
friendship and love
every minute of every day.

I love being your mother.




















As I read the card tears started to stream down my face. I love my mom so much and she'll never be able to understand how grateful I am for her, but it's time for me to grow up. I'll still need her, she just doesn't need to hold my hands anymore. Life is like learning to ride a bike, you need your parents to help you keep your balance the first few times, but you need to learn to ride on your own.