Milestones

My Beautiful Girls,

I want to share something small on the surface, but very big in meaning.

Recently, two nurses asked me to be their professional reference. One is an experienced nurse. The other is a brand-new graduate, just beginning her career. They are at very different stages — yet both asked me to speak to their competence, their character, and their readiness to move forward

I felt deeply honored.

Being asked for a reference is not casual. It means someone trusts your judgment. It means your voice carries weight. It means they believe you see clearly and fairly — and that what you say could help open a door.

Three years ago, I would never have imagined this. I was still finding my footing, still questioning myself, still growing into my role. And yet here I am now — trusted by my peers, respected for my clinical judgment, and valued not just for what I do, but for how I do it.

This is what growth looks like in real life.

Quiet. Earned. Unannounced.

I want you to know this because I want you to understand something important: confidence doesn’t arrive all at once. It builds through showing up, learning, being humble, doing the work, and treating people with integrity. Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve come until others reflect it back to you.

When people ask for your opinion, it’s because they believe you see truth.

When they trust your voice, it’s because you’ve learned how to use it well.

I am proud of the nurse I am becoming — not because I am “above” anyone, but because I have grown into myself. And I hope one day you’ll recognize these moments in your own lives too — the quiet signs that you are stronger, wiser, and more capable than you once were.

If you ever wonder whether growth is happening when life feels hard, remember this: sometimes your progress shows up as trust in the eyes of others before it ever shows up as confidence in your own heart.

And girls — I hope you always notice when your presence matters.

Because it does.

Love always,

Mom