The commencement speech I wrote for myself as my youngest kid enters kindergarten

I threw myself a graduation ceremony from having babies and toddlers at home. Here is the sap fest that ensued.

Weddings. Baby showers.

These are the benchmarks in a woman’s life that society has deemed worthy of celebration.

The loss of a woman’s autonomy seems to be the leading cause for honoring her.

This week was a big milestone for me. My youngest of four children entered full day school for the first time.

I’ve been a mother for 13 years and even when my first was just a baby I was already mentally calculating how many more years until I reach this very milestone.

I remember salivating over the dream of six and a half whole hours all to myself every single weekday. The freedom! The possibilities! The solitude! I could hike! I could write! I could spend six hours straight in a coffee shop! Can you even imagine?!?