I opened my beautiful 16-year-old daughter’s backpack and found this worksheet. This is what our Princess was thankful for this past Thanksgiving. I look at it and I can’t help but cry. Some of the tears are for joy that she is in a school that provides a safe and nurturing environment for her. And that she can write down the words she wants to say, even if she needs help doing it.

And of course I love that she is thankful for tiaras, her aunts, and her home.

But I would be lying if I didn’t say some of the tears are for the fact that my sweet girl is 16, soon to be 17, and this is our reality.

We are the parents of a gorgeous princess who has many gifts but also has many challenges.

In a few short months we will start the process to become her legal guardians because she is incapable of caring for herself.

Her future will be bright, (I'll make sure of that), but very different from that of her brothers.

As I sit here and write this she is in her room singing a song about her poor baby that is dying, which in reality is her Kindle and I’m guessing it’s not doing what she wants it to do. She is nothing if not dramatic.

Some days all I can see are the blessings that come from raising a girl who is thankful for tiaras and the fact that we can keep her happily supplied with them.

And some days the challenges of raising a special princess seem way above my pay grade and I question the wisdom of the universe for picking me as her mom.

But most days are like today, when I look at this sweet picture and feel both things at the same time.

You can read more about Kathy and her Princess on her site, My Dishwasher's Possessed!

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