My Daughter Started High School This Morning, And I Am A Mess

When she started her first day of kindergarten, I was too excited for her to be sad. I love school so much, and I was so happy she got to experience it.

But high school? High school is a different story.

There’s a secret facebook group for all the freshmen parents at my daughter’s school. They made a video of all the freshmen walking into high school this morning– and I watched it three times.

Also, I have already cried twice.

Hold me.

Is she ready? How the hell do you know if your kid is ready for high school?

This parenting teenagers thing is hard AF.

This morning she told me she was nervous, and I was trying to be all stoic and hold it together.

“Look, kiddo– here’s how I see it– high school comes no matter what. So you can either be excited or nervous. Might as well be excited.”

And when I said that to her honestly I felt pretty good about my parenting skills. I don’t think she could tell I was fighting back tears behind my giant sunglasses at all.

As I dropped her off, I watched her walk in. She’s tall. So tall. She’s already got a good six inches on me, and she looked like an adult walking into that school.

But she’s still my baby. She’s still nervous, and I am still nervous for her.

I am already ready to go pick her up. To keep her here with me safe.

This is tough. It’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. To let my daughter grow up.

But the thing is, it’s not up to me. I need to take my own damn advice. She’s going to grow up even if I want her to stay little forever. She’s going to be her own person no matter what I do.

So, I am going to try to smile. I am going to try and be nervous, not scared.

Also, I am going to go watch that video of her walking in again.