BoomerGirl Diary

On June 4 it became legally possible, after speaking those words, that my daughter, having reached the ripe old age of 25, could be sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. That of course, presupposes she would ever want to run in the first place. And as preposterous as that seems to me as her father, the very thought that she is “suddenly” a quarter-century old gives me great, great pause.

The little girl that hated cleaning her room so much serving on Capitol Hill? The same person I took to see Gordon from Sesame Street and that loved New Kids On The Block helping craft U.S. foreign policy? Gaaaaakkkk!

I gather myself and become more realistic. I’m hoping that besides her personal happiness, one big benefit of turning 25 will simply be reduced rates on her auto insurance.

Pardon me if this appears to be yet another boomer’s “gee, my kids are growing up” lament piece. I realize this Web site is already loaded with ‘em. The cynic in me wants to cry out to all of us, “Get over it’. But I do love her and 25th birthdays come but once, so allow me this indulgence.

My son has a few years to go before I pen something poignant and embarrassing about him.

Watching children grow is both magical and mortifying. At 13, I wrote her a “you’ve got your whole life before you” letter. Heartfelt and optimistic, I chose each word very, very carefully.

She appreciated the effort but I think some cool clothes and a new purse would have been more exciting to her as a budding teenager. Those years in particular are filled with mixed blessings and emotions. The parental agony over a teenage child not home by curfew that quickly turned to fury when they walked in the door sporting that “what’s the big deal” look on their face.

I do believe fathers and daughters in particular have interesting, push-pull relationships. They read and know each other in a much different way than fathers and sons or mothers and daughters.

“Dad” was used when asking for straightforward advice, a foil to mom or in those moments when she was trying to be serious. Conversely, anytime a sentence started with the word “Daddy”, a request for money or permission to stretch the rules somehow was not far behind. She still uses both words today quite effectively.

Most fathers I know tried very, very hard to spend time with their sons and daughters. While my daughter is certainly a sports fan, sports was a more natural bonding activity for her brother and me. I don’t think for a minute she missed posting up everyday against dad playing hoops in the driveway. She and I connected in many other ways, just as strong and meaningful. We’re decidedly different people, but we share many traits.

Growing up she was always independent and now at 25, she is even more her own person. Was I to write another birthday letter to her, I would remind her again that she still has “her whole life before her”. She has the benefit of many lifelong friends and loved ones that are still a big part of her life. She’s healthy, has a great job and is loaded with energy.

I do love her dearly. Not only for who she is but for what she will become. She may or may not serve in Congress one day. But she will always be my daughter ... so help me, God.