Today I’m thankful for the quiet, meaningful moments where I get to just be there for my daughter—especially when her little heart feels heavy.

Tonight, as we were lying in bed, we had one of those conversations that lingers long after it’s over.

She was upset because her teacher reassigned the recess groups at school, and she found out she wouldn’t be playing with the same group of friends she’s grown so close to. I could see the hurt in her eyes, and I knew this was a big deal for her.

I just held her, listened, and let her express her feelings. Then I told her, “It’s okay to feel this way. Your emotions are valid. It’s okay to be upset when something changes.” But I also reminded her not to let that sadness take over her whole day—especially when it’s something we can’t control.

We talked about how life doesn’t always go the way we want, and how important it is to learn how to navigate those disappointments with strength and perspective. I told her, “We may not be able to change what happens around us, but we can choose how we respond to it.”

Then, in that quiet moment, I shared something I don’t think I’ve ever said before. I told her, “Learning how to deal with things like this now—when you’re young—will help you so much later on in life.”

I explained that when I was growing up, I didn’t have these kinds of conversations. No one really explained how to deal with emotions like this. I had to learn how to deal with my emotions on my own, without anyone really guiding me. She looked at me and said, “But weren’t your grandparents there for you?”

And they were, but I told her that their ways were different—more traditional, more reserved. I kept most of my feelings to myself and learned how to navigate through them alone.

But she doesn’t have to.

She has me. She has her dad. And together, we’ll always create space for her feelings—big or small. We’ll help her understand them, sit with them, and find her strength in them.

Tonight, I’m so deeply thankful that I get to be the one to help guide her through the things I once had to figure out on my own. As a mom, these are the moments I cherish most—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real. Being able to show up for her in the ways I once needed reminds me just how important love, presence, and a few quiet words can be. I didn’t always have that growing up, but I get to offer it now. And that means everything to me.