A Very Big Deal

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My daughter is now only 12 years old. I say only as if it’s no big deal. It is a big deal. It’s a very big deal.

12 years old is a big age. It’s one step away from being a teenager, and all the attitude that comes with it, with the last bit of little kid left in her. The truth is that time goes by really fast. It seems like just yesterday she was my baby. And when it comes to her future, which of course includes college, I should have started thinking about our options about 12 years ago.

Thankfully, there are new and exciting college scholarships to apply for in this day and age. You can get creative when applying for a scholarship from Nancy Etz or go for a grant in one of many areas of study. It’s good to know that there are so many legitimate options.

College is the rocket that will send her soaring to her greatest potential. We already know that she can be anything she wants to be.

Do you want to be an astronaut? There’s galaxies upon galaxies out there waiting to be explored. Through stars and past moons. It’s possible, anything is. We’ve gone over this, right? And I’ll be right there cheering you on as you fly through the sky.

The greatest actress, winning Oscars? That’s your mom front row and center, cheering for you as you make your acceptance speech. Which better include a big thank you to the one who gave you love and life. Yes, I’m taking a little credit already. I mean, you did get your dramatic flair from somewhere.

How about a chef? A baker? There would be no arguments from me on this one. Just save me a seat at the table. I could be the official taste tester.

A teacher, sculpting and molding the next generation? I don’t know how you’d do it, though I do know that you are wonderful with your little brother. But with patience and calm of steel, teachers are seriously superheroes. You could go for it, however.

Hey, a superhero! You could be one of those, too! I could make your cape. We all know mom doesn’t sew, but I do craft. I’m really good at being crafty, so I could make it work.

The point is that this is the start of the road to her greatest potential. And it could very well all start with a college scholarship. No pressure. None at all.

For now, though, just keep being 12. I’m going to enjoy this age and the last little bit of my kid, before all I see is a teenager. My only beautiful daughter. The little girl that right now stays on the phone too late with her friends, giggling and whispering secrets over online games. Who still takes a moment to put her friends on pause so that she can give her mom a hug. Me, the one she’s going to thank in her Oscar acceptance speech one day, sooner than it seems. I’m going to enjoy those moments while I can.