Dear Oldest G.

You're 14. Congratulations. You made it another year. Sure we fought. And this won't surprise you, we're gonna fight some more. But I'd like to think that you have learned some things from me over the last fourteen years.

I know that you like to roll your eyes at me. Those very eyes that used to look at me with awe and wonder now often glare at me in contempt. That little body that used to fit so neatly inside me is now taller than me. Those hands that used to hold mine so tightly now can't be bothered to pick up their dirty laundry.

I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. Because no matter how old you get, I still see you as that curly haired cutie that used to worries that I would have fun while you were at school.

Since you still have a fondness for all things Harry Potter, this year I will offer my advice in Harry Potter quotes.

If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. Who said this? Sirius Black. What does it mean? It means that you can tell a lot on a date by how your boyfriend treats the wait staff. Remember, no one is better than you and you are better than no one.

The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing and should, therefore, be treated with caution. Spoken by Albus Dumbledore. So be cautious with your words. Be cautious in your actions. Speak the truth kindly. Refrain from intentional hurt.

Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain, said Arthur Weasley. Don't depend on Google. Don't believe it just because you read it online. Don't repeat it on Facebook without verifying it.

You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," said Draco Malfoy. Don't let others tell you what to think. Have an opinion. Have your own ideas. Never be afraid to disagree with the pack. It's okay to think differently.

Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect. Who doesn't love Luna Lovegood? We aren't guaranteed a life free from loss or pain. Often it is these losses or pains that help us grow. They help us become the people we are meant to be.

Take chances.

Take risks.

Don't sit on the sidelines.

Try something new.

Step out of your comfort zone.

Make a difference.

All my love, always and forever.

~Mom

I've been writing stories since I could write. I love to tell a good story and to make people laugh. The ability to tell a good, captivating story is a talent. Not everyone can do it and clearly some people shouldn't. I've been told I'm somewhat good at it, though these people could have been lying.

So when my oldest daughter asked me if she could read me a story that she wrote, my heart swelled with pride. "Absolutely," I said, "I would love to hear it."

This is her story, word for word (minus the spelling errors):

I hate my horrible luck. Oh, you don't think my luck is bad? Well, why you don’t put your money where your mouth is and bet me.  If I win, you have to keep reading this book and if you win you can put this down and walk away. Deal? Good. First off, my name. I hate my name! Why couldn't my parents pick a real name! Well first you should know I'm a girl, emphasis on girl. Okay, so you want to know my name now, right? Well, it’s Andy. Not Antoinette or anything, just Andy. And the bad luck doesn't stop there. My parents’ divorced last year and I got stuck with my mom. Now I know most of you girls out there are thinking "Wow. She thinks that bad luck." Well, you've never met my mom. She could easily make me do anything, which basically means signing me up for a whole bunch of sports and then telling me the day they start. Still don't think my life is worse than yours? Well the best/worst day of my life started out as the worst. Mom was taking me to a soccer practice that I didn't want to go to. Mom was coaching and I already pretended to be sick last week and I was out of new material. On the way, Mom was going on about how she wanted to know why I hated soccer so much and I said, "I've told you a million times that I hate sports! Mom, watch...."

When I woke up, everything around me was blurry and when my eyes focused it still wasn't pretty. In our conversation, if you will, mom must have not been focusing too well on the road because we had smashed head long into another car. From what I could see the other driver was slumped over on the wheel, a deflated air bag underneath him. Now was a time when I wished I had a cell phone or even a panic button but like I said luck hates me.

When I looked over at mom, I threw up. The windshield had broken on her and the wreckage wasn't pretty. I was pretty sure it was at least 7 p.m. when I woke up and I know mom was making us go to the field two hours early so I could get extra practice for the days I missed. Despite all the glass and blood I checked my mom's pulse. Nothing. I got out of the car and screamed. Mom never got herself a phone and now I had no way to call the paramedics. I was glad I didn't have to deal with mom anymore but then it dawned on me that I would be orphaned if I didn't find my dad. So I went and got my book bag out of the trunk and set off back to town.

To be continued....
Okay, I realize that this is a lengthy post and most of you probably didn't read that entire thing but SERIOUSLY! DID SHE JUST LEAVE HER DEAD MOTHER IN THE CAR AND WALK BACK TO TOWN?

Where is soccer practice? Why was no one else coming to practice? Wouldn't her teammates have noticed the accident? Are they on an abandoned road with no other traffic? Does my 12 year old really think that people just lay around in their smashed cars for hours and hours?

I realize that this is a work of fiction. My daughter's real name is not Andy and I lets be clear, I would never coach soccer but still those words..."I was glad I didn't have to deal with mom anymore" really smacked me in the face.

I'm proud to say that I refrained from critiquing her story and told her that it was very imaginative and that I was looking forward to seeing how her protagonist resolved her conflict.

But between you and I, I'm hoping she starts over.