Sister Mackenzie?

I look back in the rear view mirror and see Mackenzie's smiling face. She's so beautiful. I could be biased mind you, but I think she's going to break some hearts. Of course her heart will get broken too. Just like every other parent the last thing I want is for my little girl to get hurt. Maybe I should send her to a nunnery.

The unfortunate reality is that I can not protect her from everything. Not only can I not protect her I shouldn't. It is through the difficult parts of life that we grow. Without something to struggle against we will coast through life and never come even close to our full potential. I am stronger today because some of my thirty-nine years have been difficult. I've never gone without a meal or lived on the street, but my heart has been broken. Several times. The pain is only vague now. Seen through the fog of time and my happy marriage / family the pain no longer has the same bite. It is there though and it did make me who I am.

This subject reminds me of one of my favorite lines from The Princess Bride. ”Life is pain highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” We can wish for things to be different as much as we want, but it will not change that life is hard. If I completely shield that fact from my kids I will be doing them a great disservice. So while I don't want to see them struggle I must remember to let them. The teenage years are going to be hard.