I can’t believe it is the official last day of the year and the decade. Where has the time gone? I know I’m not the only one saying that today. Looking back at the last year, it has been full of wonderful memories, ups and downs ( I do have two teenagers) and so many lessons learned.
We started off the year with my son prepping for his permit test and now, he’s already been driving for 3 months. He has a newfound independence that I thought I would hate since it represents the next stage of us letting him go, but honestly, it’s been one of the best things to happen to him. Some kids aren’t quite ready to drive when the time comes but there has never been a doubt in our minds that he would drive as soon as he could. He has taken on a whole new responsible side and we have been so proud of him. Plus, having a teen that can drive and run errands definitely has its advantages.
My daughter has changed the most over the last year. She officially became a teenager in March and has grown over 3 inches. It’s been an interesting time to navigate through this time of change for her and we have had our share of both arguments and heart to hearts. I know that will likely be the case for the next few years but I pray that she always feels she can come to me for anything.
My husband and I have been adjusting to life with two teens and the first signs of getting time back together. As each of them starts to get active social lives, we find ourselves with unexpected date nights, which has been a nice change. Life around our house can be a roller coaster so having down time together to reconnect and get back on the same page is so important these days.
As I look back, I realize how blessed we are, despite life’s little ups and downs. In spite of a few minor health issues, all of our parents are healthy and that is a great way to start the new year. We are blessed to have our careers but most importantly, our family.
Having this time over the holidays to reflect always puts my heart and mind in the right place to start the new year. While I have a tendency to focus on my career, I also realize how precious this time is. In just 5 months, my nephew and cousin will graduate from high school and start their adult lives. It seems so surreal to me that this time in our lives is here where we start to think about our kids turning into adults.
As I look ahead to 2020 and all the exciting events and plans on the calendar, I do so with an open heart and mind, remembering to bottle and treasure every moment, because it only comes around once. Cheers to the new year and the new decade friends!