Clara turned 16 years old this weekend.
On Saturday night, eight of her friends came over to celebrate with pizza, cake, a movie, and a lot of talking, laughing, screaming, spontaneous singing, and more.
It was a joy to see.
Most interesting to me was this:
About half the girls came from Clara’s school. She met another at summer day camp a few years ago. She met another at her current overnight summer camp. At least three didn’t know the other girls when they arrived.
It was a collection of teenagers—not all connected at the start of the party and so different from one another in many ways. Yet, almost instantly, they were talking, laughing, and making everyone feel included, accepted, and appreciated.
In the four hours they spent in our home, not a single unkind word was spoken—no sarcasm, disagreement, or protest.
It was nothing but happiness, silliness, and joy.
After she finished opening her presents, her friends spontaneously surrounded her in an enormous group hug.
It’s all you want for your child — to be loved by the people around her.
You hope your child performs well in school, and Clara is doing well.
You hope your child follows the rules and laws that govern our world, and Clara does this perhaps a little too much for my liking.
But most of all, you hope your child finds friends who love and care for them and accept them for exactly who they are.
Clara has done this beautifully, cultivating friendships with an eclectic group of kind, hilarious, supportive, and brilliant people.
Clara received many gifts on her birthday, but for me watching her celebrate with her friends was the best gift of all.
