I love my daughter’s friends. When she went away to school, I had no idea I would become so invested in the lives of her friends, but here we are. I pull for them at every given opportunity.
Josie has very good friends from where we live, but when she left for her final two years of high school, she upped the ante. That happens when you live with people. I’m all in with these amazing new friends. It seems Josie has truly found her people. She will even continue in college with two of her best friends.
As they have made plans for college and all the things, I have spent countless hours lying awake thinking about them and worrying for them almost as much as I worry about Josie. They love my kid, so that means I love them. I have even developed relationships with their parents. I love that, too! I know they love my kid just like I love their kids. It is an amazing support system.
Josie is an only child, so to have these friendships that feel so much more than just friends makes me so happy. These people are now family as far as I’m concerned. I want these kids to succeed as much as I do Josie.
I just had a two-hour call with Josie and she told me everything her friends have going on along with her current doings. She told me about her friends’ parents too.
It is so weird how people enter our lives, but it is beautiful how relationships are developed. I have no doubt, both for Josie and myself, that these people will be part of us for a long time. I want it to be forever.
Shared experiences are crazy. When you have those shared experiences, you can’t help but connect with people and open your circle. I’m so grateful for the new people Josie has brought into my life. The best part is the things we have in common.
I fret for them. I pray for them. I would go to battle for them. I see their bond and it warms my heart. They have exposed each other to so much new stuff. They have created a safe space to question things and develop a new understanding of each other. It is beautiful.
I don’t remember being quite so open to new things when I was Josie’s age. However, now I’m 52 and she is making me more open. It is also giving me hope where I need it in dialogue amongst young people.
Josie and her friends genuinely try to understand and relate to each other. They embrace different ways of thinking. It makes me so proud to see them challenging the norms and making their own choices and decisions.
I often get caught up in the negative of the world and what I see as closed-mindedness. Because of my daughter, I know there are young people changing the narrative. I applaud them.
I can get pretty downbeat about the future, but after today’s call with Josie, I know my daughter is the future.
Never count out our youth. They make shit happen. Good shit. Big shit. Shit that will save the world.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
