I Know She'Ll Be Alright (For Chelsey's 17th Birthday)

She's turning seventeen still sweet (and pure) with a fire in her that nobody will ever be able to extinguish. So much of her daily routine use to revolve around me. From her tiny little hands waiting patiently while I pour her a bowl of Apple Jacks to her tiny little toes trying to wriggle free as I work her black patent leather dress shoe over her ruffley pink footies. Now, she's a young woman who really only needs me if she chooses to. I think she tries to need me (for my sake) . From her hands now the same size as my own frying us both an omelette yet asking me for help flipping it over (as if she can't do it) to her feet that have passed my own size yet still wait to be tucked in each night by me. I watch her as she leaves for school today with her long, blonde hair ironed pin-straight to reach well past the middle of her back. She tosses on her favorite jeans with the low-rise waist (that always insist on needing a tug every few minutes to stay up where they belong) and her way-too-favorite t-shirt that cheers for the boy's football team on the front and has her name on the back in large, proud letters: CHELSEY She won't leave without her kiss/hug goodbye. (I love that about her) . As cool as she is... she's not embarrassed to call me from school and say ''I love you Mom'' each time before she hangs up while I hear the guys in the background mimicking her ''Yeah, I love you too mom! '' She doesn't care she just punches them hard in the arm and tells them to buzz off! I laugh as I hear them groan from the solid hit. That's my girl!