painful lesson

About a month ago, I posted about my feelings on my daughter's wedding. Since she is soooo young I am extremely worried about it. Since I also am having her pay for a lot of the wedding she has had to learn to budget & to plan ahead. I'm so proud of her for doing that. She's upset I'm not paying for the entire wedding & says I will regret it someday, but as I watch her scrimp & save & budget I realize it's the best thing I could have ever done! Eighteen is awfully young to get married. There's no time like the present to show you are responsible enough to take care of yourself. Money management is not something that is taught in school (or homeschool because I never thought about it!). My point is that she outwardly seems like "I don't need your support. I can do this on my own." She's always been a feisty one as many of you know. My painful lesson is that it does hurt when the people around us do not support what we do when we feel like we're doing the right things. Through my own learned lesson as of late, I realize how much the support (or lack of) from those close to us means. I know now that Leah probably is hurting from my disapproval or whatever (EXTREME WORRY). My worry equates to disbelief in her abilities which would essentially mean I did not prepare her for life as an adult. Well, you know, of all the mistakes parents can make, that's not one I feel I have made. She is very mature for her age in many ways. I teach my children how to take care of themselves from early on. In reality, when I'm not here they could easily run the household from cleaning to laundry to cooking to shopping to making appointments for themselves etc. Now I have added money management to the list of things taught :) Most importantly though, my children are able to listen to the spirit & know how to pray. So Leah, here's to you. I am so proud of you for so many things & I think you need to hear them. Sorry to everyone who hates people bragging on their children. My child needs it.

• Congrats to graduating at 16 with 18 college credits!
• Congrats for knowing who that important person is & saving yourself for them!
  
• Congrats for knowing that marriage is the way to go & not moving in with someone like everyone else does!
• Congrats for having the courage to go to the other side of the planet with total strangers! (wooh Philippines!)
  
• Congrats for having the get up & go to move where YOU WANT after your married!
• Congrats for knowing that continuing your education is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
• Congrats for choosing a career that will allow you the time & freedom to do the most important work on the earth: be a mom.
• Congrats on being such a hard worker for your employers!
• Congrats to you for being able to stand up for your family & what you think is right.