You just came home from a whirlwind day in sixth grade, bursting through the door with plans to slip into your pajamas, devour some pizza (the same delightful idea I have every day around three), and have a FaceTime session with your friends. Watching you immersed in your circle of pals, enjoying every moment of sleepovers, sports events, and endless chats, I can’t help but wish you to savor this as long as possible.
As you transition through high school and into college, keep your longtime friends close while making space for new ones. Embrace adventures, travel, and those late-night talks about dreams and aspirations. Support each other through heartbreaks and the onslaught of adulthood’s pressures.
Most importantly, please don’t rush to settle down, find “the one,” or start a family. There’s no ticking clock dictating when you should hit these milestones. You should never feel pressured into these decisions until you’re fully ready.
Before diving into those chapters of life, I urge you to experience living solo for a while. Consider it a precious gift to yourself, even if you find yourself head over heels in love at a young age.
I’m not sharing this because I made hasty decisions in my own life, but rather because I did spend valuable time on my own. I lived alone for over three years before your dad moved in with me (another topic for another day), and it was one of the best experiences ever. I have zero regrets and cherish those memories.
Living alone gives you a chance to truly discover yourself—what you welcome into your life and what you don’t. It’s a serene existence where you learn to distinguish between what’s positive and what’s just drama. You’ll quickly grasp how to handle your own responsibilities, from car payments to managing a checking account. It’s eye-opening to see how much you value things when you’re the one footing the bill. You realize the importance of hard work when it’s just you depending on yourself.
Being alone allows you to have deep conversations with yourself. Sure, it can get lonely, but it’s also a time to learn how to find joy independently. You can indulge in your quirks (like dancing around in your underwear while munching on Cheetos), and I want you to embrace that freedom.
After sharing a bathroom with three siblings and then potentially 40 or so dorm mates in college, having your own space is pure bliss. You can keep it as tidy or cluttered as you desire, all while enjoying uninterrupted hot showers.
You’ll emerge as a more resilient person, learning to take charge of your life and tackle challenges head-on. While asking for help is perfectly acceptable (believe me, I did plenty of that), the experience teaches you to make sound decisions and discern between your needs and wants. And if you ever need guidance, remember I’m just a call away.
There will be late-night moments when you’ll need to figure things out on your own, but each challenge you conquer will fortify your confidence and determination. You’ll realize just how capable you truly are, erasing any doubts about your abilities. You can handle anything life throws your way.
So while I won’t be overly directive about your path, I genuinely hope you consider this advice. You won’t regret it, I promise. And I’d love to be invited over now and then—I’d relish the chance to dance and snack with you like we used to, because let’s be honest, that was a blast.
For more insights on family and parenting, check out this post on home insemination. If you’re curious about enhancing fertility, you can find great tips from the experts at Make a Mom. And if you want to learn more about the process of IVF, the NHS offers excellent resources.
In summary, spend time living independently to discover yourself, build confidence, and enjoy the freedom that comes with it. You’ll be better prepared for whatever life holds, and I’m excited to see where your journey takes you.