Sunday, August 9, 2009

Advice for an 18th birthday

It's hard to believe that my stepdaughter, Allison, will be 18 years old in a couple of days. Like most parents reaching this point in their child's life, I'm wondering where the time went.

I'm hoping we did everything right, in the time that we had to guide her, or, at least, that we didn't make too many mistakes. I'm hoping we helped her learn everything she needed to learn before she heads off into adult life. I'm sure, though, that there was much that we missed, that we forgot, that we didn't have time for, that we didn't tell her in a way that was meaningful for her.

So, here as she turns 18 this week, I'm asking you to help.

What do you wish someone had told you when you were 18 years old? What do you know now that you didn't know then? What advice did people give you when you were 18 that you didn't believe at the time, didn't understand, didn't listen to, that you now wish you had?

Fun advice, serious advice, just an anonymous word or two or heartfelt paragraphs of sage wisdom, please share it here in the comments for her.

Thank you!