It's been 10 years since...

She's growing up too quickly. 

...I graduated college. I remember thinking about the Alumni reunions even when I was on the hill at Holy Cross as a student. I kept thinking perhaps at the 5-year I'll be married, and the 10-year I'll have a baby or two but it always seemed so very far away. I always wondered what I would be like married and a mom, working or not, and what type of mom I'd be, how many kids I'd have and what type of job I'd have and on and on. I always had this vision of myself in my 30s and I guess the fact that my college reunion is this June makes me think about whether or not I achieved it.

I was speaking with a college roommate today about our children. She has a son who will be turning one soon and I have a daughter who will be 8-months old at the end of the month. Our conversation focused on the important things in life: our children, our husbands, and the rest of our family and friends. We talked about our children, how big they were getting (and how quickly it was happening -- in a flash!). We talked about our husbands and our mothers who both see and help take care of our children on a weekly basis, and we talked about how we both think a car ride bopping away to music is a bit of mom-time that we both enjoy.

The Stephanie of 10-years ago envisioned some semblance of a life that's like mine, only the reality is much better. It's much better because I have my health, I have my family, and I have my friends who have been my friends for over a decade. Some, even for several decades. I'm lucky because I love and I am loved, by them, my family, my husband, and my daughter. I'm thankful for the simple things in life.

When I say our nightly prayer with my daughter, I wish all of our family and friends health and happiness, not 2.5 children and a house in the suburbs and a vacation condo in New Hampshire. I hope I teach her that above anything else -- and to not envision herself older than she is, because man, those 10 years flew by. And, the only thing that flew by quicker than those 10 years was the past 7.5 months.