Five on Friday: Wishes for my High School Freshman

My oldest daughter started High School this week. She’s always taken a bus to school but now rides her bike. She's really enjoying the independence of getting herself to school (so far). 

High School is going to be full of many other new things that she’s longing for: new friends (“My friends are great but I’m ready to find my people”), more challenging classes, more club variety and exciting opportunities. She was literally counting down the hours until school started and when she got on her bike that first morning she pedaled faster than she ever did before. I mean . . . that girl was really TRUCKING!

As I watched her pedal furiously away I realized that might sound bad to people that don’t know us—like she couldn’t wait to get away from me. And here’s what I realized in that moment, along with some other observations and wishes for my amazing girl. My list for this week is for my daughter:

1.  I love how excited you are for High School to start. Soon enough you’ll know that big building and all of its hallways like the back of your hand. In the upcoming years you’ll find people or policies to be annoyed with but right now it’s all so fresh and full of promise. Remember how you were so excited you put your helmet on backwards? I hope you always remember how you felt that morning.

2. Don’t worry, I don’t take your pedaling away from me so fast as an insult. I know we’re good. I actually like that you did that. You shouldn’t ever be worried about me so much that you don’t go enthusiastically on to your next adventures. I’ll be here waiting for you to get back and tell me all about them.

 

3.  After you left, your 9-year-old brother assured me that he was “pretty sure” that you’d get home safely. I had no concerns whatsoever. I happen to think you’re pretty worldly for a country girl of your age and I trust that you can manage to get around just fine on your own. I can’t wait to see what parts of the world you get to explore—my first trip abroad was during High School and I’m hoping yours is too.

4. You were so looking forward to meeting new people and when you got home told me  about all of the ones that reached out to you and that you reached out to. You embody the notion that strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. That is also something that is going to serve you well in your future travels and I know you're going to have friends around the world.

5. Look at you!  Not caring at all that most people in our community think that a girl's legs should be shaved and her head shouldn't be. Your bold confidence is inspiring to everyone, even if they're too shy to say it or try to mask it behind unkind words or stares. You are a shining star and my last wish is not that you're ready for high school but that IT is ready for YOU.