
Today she says, "Can I go out to dinner tomorrow night?"
I am dripping with disappointment.
She and her friends have decided to/planned for dinner as a group. A couple of them are going into the military and two have summer programs, but once they return for their few weeks at the end of the summer the ones still here will be preparing to leave. Well, actually they'll all be getting ready for their Fall semester.

Well... there go my expectations.
I could put my motherly foot down - she is just 17 - and let her know that she will be in on Friday night, but do I really want to start her "life on her own" off with a negative?
I am physically and mentally exhausted from playing chauffeur, running errands and getting everyone (my four offspring) off to their activities, responsibilities, etc., that I haven't really done anything for myself in almost a month - probably longer. I guess I was thinking the least she can do is "pay" me with a mother/daughter night. The three younger children will be with their father this weekend so it seemed perfect to me.

For the next few days I'll just smile (or frown!) and do whatever is necessary to make this the most memorable exciting time of her life. Inside the tears may fall I will just have to keep in mind that this is what I've been preparing her for her entire life. I just forgot to prepare myself.