Ode to Kate on Your 19th Birthday

July 8, 2026

My Dearest Kate,

Happy, Happy 19th Birthday!  

Let me begin by saying--I love you. I love you. I love you and that I have so much gratitude for the gift of having a front row seat to your journey.  

This past year, you began college and Dad and I were gobsmacked and so proud to be at your Wesleyan productions--from set design, costume construction, stage management to props, you dove deeply into the world of theater.  Seeing you in your element being mentored by instructors who have helped you grow your skills and strengthen your confidence is remarkable.  And even as I write this, you're feverishly working on a Cosplay costume that you built from scratch--designing the pattern, sewing complex components (French seams are pretty cool) and culminating the ensemble for competition next week. 

It's also been your first time living away from home and while I thought I wouldn't survive it, turns out that I can and you really are an expert in your own life--managing hard classes, navigating a roommate, deciding which parts of the social scene you like and don't and how to make peace with a small room and shitty laundry machines.

It was also so much fun to see you in Europe as you experienced West End theater productions, vintage shops, delicious coffee and began dreaming about possible study abroad and grad school opportunities.

I love that you are passionate about the things you're passionate about and that you meticulously take the time to do those things right--whether in relationships, academics, your job, or your craft--you don't settle and I am so inspired by that.

Last week, Dad and I took you to Chicago to celebrate your birthday.  As the middle child, it was the first time we ever had that much concentrated time with just you.  Between a concert, an afternoon at the beach, a play, meals, coffee and 16-hours of drive time, we got to share good questions and hear what really matters to you.  I don't think I'll ever forget that.

As you embark upon the last year of your teens, remember that you are enough--all of you. Continue to trust in your intuition. Use your instincts to jump or course correct. Don't be afraid to wander down a new path. Keep reflecting on the people and experiences that make you feel alive. Recognize that feeling down or unsure or unsteady or scared is all part of it and that you're right where you're supposed to be. And when you feel wobbly, please know that on your terms, I'm here to listen, to laugh/scream with you, to get coffee with you, to plan a way through and to remind you that you're not alone.

There's so much good and beauty in the world and you are definitively part of that. And so, I leave you with the blessing that we've given to you since Kindergarten, "May God bless your mind so you can learn, your ears to be a good listener, your mouth to speak kind words and your heart to feel love."

I love you so, so much,

Mom