Parenting is a journey of constant learning—one filled with joy, heartache, and moments that change you forever. If there’s one thing I’ve truly learned as a mother, it’s that I will always worry about my daughter. Not in a negative way, but in the sense that I’ll always wonder if she’s okay, if she’s being treated kindly, if she’s handling things with grace.

When she started first grade, she faced challenges that neither of us expected. She had been homeschooled before this, so when she walked into a classroom full of kids who had already been together since kindergarten, she was the new girl. The outsider. My daughter has always been so sweet, friendly, and caring—she thought all kids would be the same. But she had to learn the hard way that not everyone is as kind as she is.

One night, while we were getting ready for bed, she broke down in tears. Through her sobs, she asked, “Why doesn’t anybody want to play with me?” Seeing her cry and hearing the pain in her voice tore my heart into pieces. We explained to her that everyone is different, and maybe they just didn’t know how to approach her because she was new. But then she told us about the kids who weren’t just distant—they were outright mean.

Hearing that she was being bullied was one of the hardest moments of my life as a mother. We told her to ignore them, to stay away from them. But the unkindness continued, and soon, she didn’t even look forward to going to school. That’s when we told her to stand up for herself—not in a mean way, but with confidence. We reminded her to be patient, that the right friends would come along.

And they did.

Little by little, she found kids who valued her for who she is. She started standing up for herself, and I’ve watched her grow stronger and more resilient every single day. She’s come such a long way, and I couldn’t be prouder.

But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that the worry never really goes away. And I don’t think it ever will. Because I’m a parent. I’m a mother. And I’ve realized that parenting isn’t just about the big milestones—it’s a series of mini letting go’s. Every single day, I’m learning to release her little by little into the world while still being her safe place.

I’m also learning just how big of a role I play in shaping who she becomes. Not that her dad’s role is any less—he’s an incredible father—but the bond between a mother and daughter is something different. And I know that no matter how much I try to guide her, she’s teaching me just as much as I’m teaching her.

Every day, she’s growing. And so am I.