Amanda

Today is the beginning.

It is the beginning of the rest of your life.

It is the day that you begin to realize how big this world really is and how little your place in it is.

When you begin to understand that there are two people in this world that love you as much as this – and you still can’t wrap your mind around it.

When you begin to understand how a woman can endure pain time and again.

It is the day that you learn what it means when they say that your heart will forever walk outside of your body.

When you begin to find yourself marveled by the simplest things and you see everything like it was the first time.

It is the day that you begin to take more pride in what being a woman is.

It is the day that you begin your unpaid career as a teacher, a doctor, a counselor, a housekeeper, a soldier.

It is the beginning of a time when you can’t watch the nightly news anymore and your heart begins to break so easily for perfect strangers.

It is the day that you realize that your life is not yours completely anymore. And that doesn’t bother you one bit.

It is the beginning of many sleepless nights, and of waking up at the slightest whimper and later at the sound of the front door opening after a night on the town.

When you begin to understand what sacrifice is.

It is the first day that you look in the mirror and begin see your mother’s eyes looking back at you.

The beginning of the time when you are shocked to hear her words coming out of your mouth – just like she always said they would.

Today is the beginning of life – of yours and hers – the beginning of a friendship, a bond, a sisterhood, a connection.

Today is the day of your daughter’s birth.

Today is the beginning.