Dear non kindergarten parents.....

yes, is that you? Yes, it's me, checking on my child wondering if she is ok.  Today is my kids first day of Kindergarten.  I mean, she went to pre-k, but see, I worked at the school so I was a few hundred yards away.  This year is just different.  We just moved here, and we know only 1 family for hundreds of miles, and after that city, its thousands of miles.  We cannot just jump in the car and go see grandmas and grandpas, cousins, friends.  We would have to drive 24+ hours.  She is my little girl, so excuse me while I am worried that she is having a good day.  I hope she makes friends and I hope she doesn't have to eat lunch alone.  I hope she finds friends to play with on the play ground instead of sit on a bench and look around at all the other kids who know each other.  Also, we don't live a few miles from the school.  I am a whole 30 miles away, one way.  She got on the bus at 6:05 this morning.  She has never rode a bus before.  She is new at that too.  Besides that, her little brother I pacing around waiting to go get sissy!  He cried, and he cried hard this morning because he misses his best friend!  She is our whole world!
I know how I feel when I go somewhere that isn't familiar with me.  I am shy, I am nervous, and I am scared I won't fit in or make friends.  We have moved 18 times in 7 years.  So why you say, at least my daughter is young and can make friends easily, it is still VERY hard to fit in and VERY hard to make friends while your missing everything you once knew.  Its very hard, because its hard to leave your comfort zone, your inside jokes, your friends, your places you frequent, your memories, and knowing that not one single NEW person you meet will ever know what your life was like. 
We are So excited for the new school year, and to make friends, and to see her laugh and get that gorgeous excited sparkle in her eye.  Please teach your kids to be kind.  Please teach your kids to help one another.  Please practice safety this year.  I wish you all a good school year with lots of learning, growing and exciting times!  May this school year be the best yet and that every child can learn something they will keep with them the rest of their lives! 
On the bright side, I cried my eyes out, but the house is so peaceful today.  I haven't had to break up any fights, and the house is staying kind of put together! ha ha
-The worried parent!

Screw you self doubt!

"What other people think of you ain't none of your damn business." - RuPaul

                                                         

But for real, can we talk about this.  Being a girl in this day and age is such a sucky, yet amazing thing ever.  I cannot speak for all of you, but I can speak for myself, right?  My whole life, whenever I have stepped out of my comfort zone, I have made the best memories and have grown tremendously.  
I was in-between groups of friends and randomly decided to go to a long ago friends wedding reception.  I met up with some old friends who randomly invited me on a trip.  Out of comfort zone #1-I agreed to go and I went!  I met my VERY best friends on this trip, who still keep my grounded and laughing every single day.  They have been my rock and helped me get my life on the right track.  
Through them, I met Jase, and well, lets just say, I would not be where I am today without him.  I have moved all over the country, met countless AMAZING people, and grew up so much.  Let alone I have my family with me and our life is one crazy adventure. 
Here is the thing, I NEVER thought I would be where I am today.  I never thought I'd get married, let alone have kids.  I never thought I would move out of Utah, and here I am, KILLING it.  I never thought I'd have a real true life best friend, and I have several!
So why all this self doubt?  Where did it come from?  COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS! There it is, I said it.  I am THEE worst at comparing myself to others! I'm never skinny enough, funny enough, pretty enough.  I suck at running, doing my hair/makeup, decorating, putting together outfits, you name it, I suck! 
Let me just tell you this story, k? Recently I took up photography.  I did a photoshoot and my client "loved" it, or so she says.  I loved the results, so I am assuming she was telling the truth.  Rumors got around that her sister in law HATED the photos.  She hated my lighting and style.  I wanted to crawl into a hole and cry and give up.  I knew I wasn't the best.  I knew this was probably my 5th photoshoot ever, but her words were eating me alive! Conclusion, I haven't given up, and I've don't many photoshoot that have been featured in weddings, announcements, hung on walls for years to come, I've been featured on huge websites and have total strangers trying to book me.  Am I the best, no, but I'm trying my hardest to become the best that I can be.
Here is the conclusion of my rant here... Ladies, guys, kids, adults, whoever you are, PLEASE can we try to lift each other up instead of put them down?  Please can we work together for happiness.  Lets compliment one another instead of judging each other.  Please.  We have enough to deal with inside our own world of self doubt.  Let's uplift each other.  Let us help each other to step out of their comfort zone and make amazing memories that last a lifetime and have an impact on each other!