Our oldest turned 19 today. Nineteen…!! Seriously, where does the time go? His dad and I found ourselves reminiscing earlier, watching old videos that instantly transported us back to a time when life was simpler—when his biggest joys were rolling cars across every surface he could find, laughing endlessly, and being in constant motion.
We’ve always let our kids choose how they want to celebrate their birthdays. This weekend, it was grandparents, close friends, and his girlfriend. Tonight we thought it would just be our little family, his best friend, and her. But before we knew it, half a dozen more mouths showed up at the table. Lately, the house has been quieter—his focus has been on his girlfriend (go figure). So it was a pleasant surprise to find ourselves feeding a full crew again, with energy buzzing through the house.
As I sat back and watched, I couldn’t help but admire how his friendships have grown and shifted over the years. They’ve begun to step into places where we as parents step back, filling in the gaps as part of his support system. Even his younger sister has started tagging along—and not in an annoying little-sister way. He actually invited her the other night, which gave my husband and me a rare stay-at-home date night. Win-win all around.
But in all seriousness, I am so grateful for the friendships our son has built. Their shared love of cars binds them together, but it’s more than that. Some drifted away and have since come back. Others have stuck close through all the changes. Watching them mature, support one another, and find their way gives me so much hope—not just for my son, but for this generation as a whole.
I can’t help but hope our daughter finds the same kind of friendships as her brother. But girls are different—there’s often more drama, more self-interest, more cattiness. And honestly, I’m not sure we’re in the right place for her to find friends who truly share her values. She’s an old soul in many ways, and those kinds of connections are harder to come by these days. At the same time, I will relish the moments I have with her—to impart what wisdom I can, to guide her, and to soak up every bit of time together. Because before we know it, she’ll be 19 too, and we’ll be left wondering what’s next.