She can’t get enough of Harry Potter. She reads like she’ll never get another book in her hands ever again. She is sensitive and kind. She is hard on herself. She internalizes things and talks about them only after they have been She wants to be a baker, a scientist, a fashion designer, a costume designer and so much more. She still thinks I’m the best guy in the world and we can always sit and talk things out even when I annoy her. I am incredibly lucky to have this little girl in my life.

However, she is growing up and that scares me. As she gets older she will naturally start to pull away and assert her independence more. Other people and the world at large will become a greater influence. I’m afraid of that because what I have been seeing in the world as of late hasn’t been terribly positive.

I know that every parent goes through this and worries about how the world will receive their children. I am sure that my own parents went through this sort of thing as we got older, and probably still do. The difference is, I’m older, I’ve gone through things. I’ve been knocked into the dirt and gotten back up. I can’t bear the thought of having to see my kids go through things that I cannot fix or help them with. I hope that what I have taught them as they have grown up has been enough to be resilient when the world is harsh.

I may fear more whether or not my own heart and mind can take seeing my children hurting. I have always told them that they can always talk to me about anything. I hope that they will always remember that and choose that as their first option.