It’s not that I didn’t see this coming, right? I’ve known for a long time that Oakli, my oldest child, would turn 18 this week. Come to think of it, I guess I’ve known for, well, 18 years. It’s also not as if I could have possibly forgotten. She’s been reminding her mom and me of this date for, well, 18 years.
Recently, while discussing her big day, I asked if she’d allow me to dedicate this week’s column to the lessons I hope she’s learned during her journey to 18. Not only did she approve, she offered to write her own version and share her own view of the lessons.