10/25/2026
“Just wait until they’re all in high school.”
People used to say that when our three girls were little, and I assure you it wasn’t a compliment. It was more of a warning, as if someday I’d understand just how miserable a house full of teenage girls could be.
Well… they’re 15, almost 17 and 18 now (freshman, junior & senior). And whoever said that, you were so unbelievably wrong. I’ve had the time of my life with these girls.💕
Sure… someone is always looking for the curling wand, someone else has apparently taken the straightener, and my Kenra hair oil is missing even though nobody has seen it, touched it or used it. Does anyone have setting spray left? And how can there be THIS much hair stuck in the vacuum?
But somewhere in and amongst all of that, the little girls in Elsa and Anna dress up clothes slowly disappeared, and three high school girls showed up. Homecoming dresses x 3, sweaty jersey’s x 3 …more than 3 pairs of basketball shoes… you get the picture. But every stage had me thinking “this is the best, I want to freeze time RIGHT now!”
Somehow, we managed to pull off a surprise and get our soon to be 17 year old to Thomas Rhett, her ALL TIME favorite.
The surprise? So dang fun!
Thomas Rhett? Hands down, 10/10.
But standing there with this crew, I kept thinking about how we’d given her this night for her birthday… and somehow I was the one getting the gift. 😢 You see, we’ve spent a lot of time together over the years. A lot! And next year, when that oldest girl heads off to college, that starts to change. One by one, these girls will head into their next chapter, and having all of us together won’t be the everyday thing it’s always been.
I’m excited for them. I’m excited for everything ahead. That’s what you’re supposed to say when you’re the mom, so I’m gonna keep saying it until I believe it. 😉
I just really, really love having them here. And honestly, if you so much as ask me about it, I’ve already got a lump in my throat.
It sure hit home when Thomas Rhett sang” Life changes” And apparently, sometimes it changes while you’re hollering down the hallway for everyone to get their shoes on because we needed to leave five minutes ago.
You’re so busy living it that you don’t always notice how much has changed until you look around. That’s what I keep coming back to lately. I am glad I had the energy to be IN these years with them. In the pictures. On the trips. Singing at the concert. Never missing a beat for the couch and sweats or saying “I’m too tired” when something fun comes up.
And I think a lot of us moms need that reminder. We get so good at making sure everyone else has what they need that taking care of ourselves becomes something we’ll get around to when life settles down. But your kids keep getting older while you are waiting for things to settle down.
Cheers to the mamas sharing a bathroom counter with the girls who used to need help washing their hair…and now are stealing your good hair stuff (and much more expensive). I hope you’re having the time of your life, too. ❤️
And if taking care of yourself keeps getting pushed to “after things slow down,” message me CHANGES. Let’s talk about making room for you in the life you love.