Mother’s Day was last weekend. This is a day where our children remind us that we are loved. This weekend I heard from my youngest daughter. She is at the Air Force Academy and they had their Ring Dance on Friday. The Ring Dance is a tradition where the cadets receive their class rings and celebrate their upcoming move to their firstie year. You’ll find out at the end of this blog post how I was once again reminded that I am loved.

 

I remember when my spouse had his Ring Dance. I was living in Denver, CO as his fiancée.  Alain and his friends were hyped up for the day. After that event, they would begin counting down the days to their graduation. For me, it was my first introduction to military balls and their protocols. Who knew that I would still be doing it all these years later?

Fast forward twenty-six years and my daughter is attending the Ring Dance, not as a guest but as a cadet. I couldn’t imagine when I held that little girl that she would one day join the military, let alone attend a service academy. But here she was, living her dream.

She sent her dad a photo of her in her mess dress early Friday evening.

The first text I received from her Friday was of her in her gown with a fellow cadet.

She was very excited to wear that gown. We went shopping while she was home on winter break. It may be the last time she can wear “civilian” clothes while in the military.

Later that night, I heard my phone ding. It was my daughter texting me. On my phone, was a photo of her ring.

It’s a huge deal. She had been keeping the design under wraps. And now I was privy to the finished product.

But wait, the excitement wasn’t over. A few moments later, I had another text from her. This time she was letting me know the significance of the ring.

Cue the waterworks. You hope that your children will realize how much you love them and all the sacrifices that you make ONE DAY. But here it was, twenty years after I gave birth to her and she got it. I am one happy mom.

I wonder what will happen at graduation next year?