07/19/2026
As I sit here in the back seat my emotions are going something like this:
"I'm proud."
"I'm nervous."
"When did she get old enough for this?"
"I miss the little girl asking, 'Are we there yet?'"
"I love watching her grow... but I wish time had walked instead of sprinted."
Husband sitting beside me instead of behind the wheel changes the whole rhythm. For a brief stretch of highway, we're not the ones responsible for every turn. We're just Mom and Dad, passengers together, watching our daughter carry our family forward.
It's bittersweet. Parenthood is full of these tiny ceremonies that no one announces. No graduation stage. No applause. Just a different seat in the car.
One day we carried her everywhere. Today, she's carrying us. ❤️
For the first time, our 17 year old wanted to drive the road trip, so Dad and I climbed into the back seat together.
It's funny how something as simple as changing seats can make you realize how quickly life is moving. Yesterday we were buckling car seats, handing out snacks, and answering 'Are we there yet?'
Today, we're trusting the young woman we raised to lead us down the highway.
I don't know exactly how to feel. Proud. Grateful. A little emotional. Maybe all of it at once.
Growing up doesn't just happen to our children... it happens to us, too. 🚗✨❤️"
❤️ ⏳ 🚗 🥹 🤍
