1 Being an adult isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
Grown ups tell you that, and you don't believe them, but they're right. Sure, you can cook half a bag of tator tots for dinner, and eat ice cream right from the carton and no one can tell you no. (Spoiler alert, your metabolism is gonna suck after you have kids) But then there are responsibilities too. Going to work to make money to pay the bills. Having unexpected issues like having sewage back up into your basement not once, but THREE times. Having to make appointments, keep up on laundry, be awake half the night with a pukey kid. It's not always bad, but embrace childhood and don't take it for granted. Even those awkward middle school years...nah who am I kidding? Those few years sucked.
2. It's okay to question your beliefs.
You have never waivered in believing in God...but you will have many moments in life that you will find yourself questioning certain things that you were taught. Then you will inevitably feel guilty for thinking those things. A lot of people who were born in the "Millennial" era are doing a thing called "deconstruction", although some walk away from everything related to religion. Ironically, deconstruction will actually be the thing that gets you to go back to church because you realize it's okay to not agree with every single thing a pastor or leader says. They are human too, and as long as they're teaching the fundamentals of what you believe Christianity is then it's okay.
3. Alone time is everything.
Remember your meltdown on the first mission trip you ever went on? It happened mid-week. You had been around people 24/7 for at least 3 to 4 whole days, and you absolutely fell apart one night. You couldn't be around people for one more second. Thankfully a leader in the group acknowledged what was happening and found you a quiet space. You were even allowed to skip worship that night. It's the first time you realized you were an introvert. Being around people is all well and good, but you have a social battery and once it's dead, it's all over. Always make time for yourself. It's refreshing. And it's okay to say no when someone begs you to do something and you don't want to. Do not forget that!
4. Being a mom is amazing and torture.
Let me explain. First of all you better brace yourself because you didn't have girls like you had always imagined yourself having. It's okay though, because both times you found out that you were having a boy, you were so happy! Motherhood is what you dreamed of since childhood. Being pregnant was amazing...minus the acid reflux and James giving you a scare a few times. Like I said though, being a mom is amazing torture. You are blessed with healthy babies. It's love at first sight. Those sweet little angels then proceed to not sleep through the night for a year and a half each. But then they learn to say "mama" and then give drooly kisses. They learn to crawl and walk. They learn the art of throwing themselves on the ground and screaming bloody murder in the middle of Target. They learn to read and write. They tell you that they love you. They throw up all over in the middle of the night. They win awards in school. They sass back. They learn about Jesus and then ask him into their hearts. It's a roller coaster ride, but those boys are so loved by you, mama.
5.You may never known what you want to be when you grow up...and that's okay!
You grew up thinking that you would go to college and land on one career and stick with it your whole life. Being a teacher or a nurse. Senior year of high school you took a college level CNA class, and it was then that you realized the nursing world was not for you. You were already working in daycare and you wanted your own independence, so you skipped the whole college thing and jumped headfirst into full time child care which you stuck with for 11 years. Then you got landed your dream job. Stay at home mom! Then on to become a preschool teacher and a paraprofessional. Eventually, you'll have to find another path that's more full time, but you don't have to panic, because all it does is cause you anxiety. God always comes through with a plan.
