As odd as it may sound, kindergarten doesn’t seem that long ago. It feels like just last year I was facing, what I thought to be major milestones in my life. Moving on from elementary school to middle school felt life changing. Going through relationships and break-ups felt melancholy and sour. Losing friends and making new ones felt eye opening and bittersweet. Growing up every little thing was a milestone. Although now I know minor things in life aren’t milestones, I am so fortunate to have my Mom and friends to face even the smallest of milestones with. That’s why our 13-year long annual Mother Daughter is a special event for me.

Mother Daughter is a celebratory event for my friends and I. We get to not only enjoy our day with our Mom’s but with each other. I remember how it started, tea at American Girl Doll. The ultimate 5-year-olds dream. We all dressed up in our “fancy coats” and attended the tea party not only with each other but with our look-alike dolls (and yes they recieved their own chairs). From then we matured slightly each year seeing the Nutcracker, The Rockettes, or other shows. We always either started or ended our Mother- Daughter with a meal altogether, my favorite time to spend time with my friends, my Mom, and my second Moms.

Our final year before we all part ways was something different and special. Through the course of a 13-year friendship, there were rough patches. A once large friendship split up into smaller groups and I knew this was part of growing up. At the end of the day, we were always there for each other and loved each other. This past summer began our senior year journey, we all picked up right where we left off leaving any bitterness behind. Today, I couldn’t be happier to be finishing high school with the same girls I started elementary school with.

For the past 13 year’s Mother-Daughter has allowed me to strengthen my love and friendships with my best friends, their Mom’s and my own Mom. My friends have traveled through my biggest and smallest “milestones” with me for the past 13 years. Each year we celebrate Mother-Daughter to highlight the bonds we have created with each other and enjoy a piece of the holidays altogether. If you think this was sappy just wait for my graduation post. Have a Merry Christmas!

xx Liv