11 April 
Today is a truly special day in my relationship with my daughter, who is almost 11 years old. I’m so proud of her, and I felt compelled to write about it—for myself, for her, and maybe for a future moment when she stumbles upon this space.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on a decision I’ve made but haven’t yet acted on. It’s something I’ve wrestled with for some time. When I initially sought advice from those around me, they opposed it. So I maintained the status quo against my wishes.
 recently, it felt like the right time to move ahead with my decision. That day is tomorrow.

As I sat in my room tonight, organizing my thoughts and planning the steps to execute this decision, my daughter came in. It was after dinner, and I had intended to take some time to reflect quietly. 

I paused, and realized she might be the perfect person to talk to—someone who could listen and understand. 

I asked her to sit down and keep a secret. 
I told her that I wanted to speak with her as a friend about something personal. 

She listened in a way that felt beyond her years, I felt seen, heard, and understood by someone whom I love. 

I was amazed by her insights. She gave me brilliant advice that hadn’t even crossed my mind. She also pointed out something about how I was presenting my reasoning and gently suggested that I avoid over-justifying myself and reminded me not to be overly open in situations where it might not serve me well. Her observation struck a chord—it was something so simple yet so profound that I had completely overlooked it in the midst of my planning.

Thanks to her input, I feel not only more confident about my decision but also incredibly proud and grateful for the person she is becoming. I told her as much—that today is a special day for both of us because it marks a moment when she wasn’t just my daughter but also my friend and advisor.

Proud mom and grateful friend 🧡