The Number 22 Rings True

Sometimes you recognize the signs, sometimes you don't.  Either way, we're all charged with making life happen.

My oldest daughter's life number is twenty-two.  She didn't choose this number.  It was assigned to her on her first day of kindergarten.  When she showed me her take-home papers on the first day of school, she had this huge grin on her face when she announced her number,  "I am Kayla 22."

To me, 22 was her place on the roster.  But to her, that number represented her place in the world.  There were 26 children in her class.  She was assigned the number 22.  This was not a random assignment. It meant something to her.  (She was assigned a number based alphabetical order.)

The number 22 also represented all that was fair in the world.  She would regularly be the 22nd person in line.  She was responsible for maintaining order with 21 and 23.  When her number was the highlighted number of the day, it was her time to get special attention and show her fancy new leadership skills.  When she made it to the front of the line, she could take charge, no questions asked, and; no one could question her right to be at the front of the line.  

That number, 22, represented peace and order.  It also put everyone on an equal playing field.  My daughter was born 7 weeks early and on her first day of kindergarten, I realized that she was the second youngest child in a class of five and six year olds.  She had made five the day before her first day of big girl school.

Because she couldn't read and write yet (some kids were quite good at), having an assigned number gave her independence.  She was able to find her seat, her cubby, her take home folder, her backpack hook...  The teacher had provided every single student the opportunity to function on a level playing field as they all began the process of learning. 

Fast forward to 2017 and on the morning of her birthday she called to remind me.  She said, "Mom, I'm twenty-two today."  To which I replied, "You're Kayla 22."  We both shared a laugh, and then she spoke with a hint of authority in her voice.  "I want to do something fun for my birthday weekend.  I have plans.  This year won't be like my 21st.  I have a stuff to do." 

That evening, she hopped in the family car with one of her friends by her side.  She drove two hours away to the big city and enjoyed the weekend.  She did big people things, ate real food and partied like it was her birthday.

That was my fourth time letting go.   The first time was when she drove to high school for the first time (it was pouring rain that day).  The second was when she went to college.  The third was when she graduated from college.  This time, the fourth time, was on her twenty-second birthday.

On this day, Kayla 22 did her thing.  She showed me that she wasn't a baby anymore.  That she could make good decisions and that I could trust her do what she promises to do.  

It's an emotional challenge to watch your kids grow up.  You prepare them to be adults.  But, you still worry about them like when they were babies.  However, if you just look into your heart for what rings true about their strengths and abilities, 22 and the years that follow will continue to be filled with a life full of great memories, prosperity,  and joy.