This past weekend has been a bookend of several sorts. My daughter graduated college, and we traveled to beautiful Sarasota to celebrate her milestone. Her life is stopping and restarting in exciting ways as she heads into a gap year before pursuing her masters. She’s taking on the expenses and responsibilities of a young adult life, but her exuberance is contagious.

For me, this is the end of being tied, albeit loosely, to the dependent she was. She’s in flight, and in a way, so am I. These minutes bookend our parent child relationship and open new chapters as peers. Watching her poise and humor throughout the weekend filled me with a great sense of peace. All is well, Mama. She’s a fledgling no more.