Hot Flashes & Cold Brew

Girls, my son is turning 16 this year. He is excited about getting his driving permit, preparing to take his SATs, and wants to apply to MIT to become an engineer. As a mom, proud doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel about him. I know he can achieve anything he sets his mind to.

Now with that being said…

My firstborn baby is turning 16 this year and is going to start driving on those death-trap roads. He wants to apply to MIT and move over two hours away…by himself…for FOUR YEARS!!!!

No one warns you about how scary being a mother is, and to be honest, I am not ready to let my baby take on the world on his own. I mean, have you seen how crazy the world is right now??

And yet, I know this is part of the job. Being a mom isn’t about keeping them in a bubble forever. It’s about giving them the tools to navigate the chaos, the mistakes, and the incredible opportunities that lie ahead. It’s about trusting that the values, lessons, and love you’ve instilled will guide them even when you can’t be there to hold their hand. It’s about building a trusting relationship and a safe home where our kids will always know they are welcome. A place to run back to when life gets tough. Where they can come for a warm meal, a place to sleep, a cup of coffee, and some much-needed advice.

And beyond that, I take comfort in knowing that God has him in His arms too — guiding him, protecting him, and watching over him when I can’t. That faith allows me to let go a little, trusting that he is always held, always loved, and never truly alone.

Here’s the thing: it’s normal to feel anxious. It’s normal to imagine every “what if” scenario and run through them in your head a thousand times…probably at 3 in the morning.

But the magic happens when you pair that worry with action. Teach them well. Set boundaries. Have the hard conversations. And then… breathe. Because letting go doesn’t mean you stop caring — it means you trust them to grow, even when it terrifies you.

So, while I may shed a few tears at the sight of him behind the wheel for the first time, or when he leaves for college, I will also be cheering louder than anyone. I will be proud in ways I can’t even measure. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll learn a little something about courage and trust from him along the way.

Being a mom is overwhelming, thankless at times, and downright scary. But it’s also full of moments of pride, laughter, and love that make every worry worth it. And when my son takes on the world? I’ll be there in spirit — heart full, hands slightly trembling, cheering him on like the proud, scared, completely human mom that I am.

Talk to you in the next post. 🤍