Thank you.

We, the children, are afraid too.  We’re afraid of failing.  We’re afraid of letting you down.  We’re afraid the lives we choose to live won’t measure up to what you had in mind.  We’re afraid we haven’t found ourselves in the world of teenage youtube sensations, and twenty-something millionaires.  We’re afraid the world is moving at pace which is almost impossible to match.  We’re afraid we’ll come home empty-handed, broken-hearted, and just a little more defeated, not knowing more or less than we did before.

We’re filled with fear, but as you know, that’s what drives us.  The comfort zone is a thing of the past. While we have no guarantees in the real world, we know there’s more worth knowing.  We don’t have all the answers to your logical concern, because we’re still struggling to answer our own questions.

We also know that it’s hard for you.  We hide the uncertainty to make way for strength.  We hide the vast collections of little mistakes, though the learning shows.  We know we’re in far away places, whether physically or on our paths of discovery, and we know it’s harder for you to help us here.  But we’re growing.  

We’re growing into the people we were always meant to be.  We’re revealing the traits from you we never knew we had.  It’s the strength it took for you to let us go that builds the courage it takes to make something of ourselves.  And each and every day we hope you’re proud of us.   We’re thankful.

Thank you for the unwavering support.  In a world where safety is no longer a guarantee, you’ve given us an emotional harbor to return to.  You’ve given us the values, and the integrity to make the right decisions.  The humility and accountability to take responsibility when we don’t.  The heart and the vulnerability to trust and build relationships with others.  The freedom to be creative and dream big for futures you never thought possible. 

Thank you for letting us go.  We may leave your side, but you can never leave our spirit.  After all, it’s you that we get it from.