If she can do it, I can too!

i still remember the exact feeling i had when my (then single) sister sat us all down (about 4 roommates and that many more friends--all women) to tell us that A) she was pregnant and B) she was keeping it: i thought she was crazy! i knew that my sister had so far succeeded at anything she'd set her mind to, but i couldn't see how she could realistically raise a child while also completing her graduate course work and working full time. not to mention that whole "but, you're single" argument that's so popular...

my sister told us all that day that she believed in the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child." not having been a mother at the time, i took this very literally as "i can't do this without all of you supporting me." what i know now that i didn't know then is that you can have as many people involved in your child's life as you want, but--at the end of the day--you are in charge and are completely and emotionaly responsible for the well being of that kid.

6+ year later, and my sister's daughter is the most beautiful, well-behaved, intelligent and creative child i've every known. and i've know quite a few kids... i don't say that in the "my niece is better than your niece" kind of way. i say it because thosoe are exactly the adjectives people would have used to describe my sister when she was growing up. (occasionally, they still do.) as much as we were all "there" to lend a helping hand or just take emma up the street for ice cream while lakay studied, emma is my sister's daughter. they think alike, dress alike and look at the world in similar ways. what a testament to the person my sister is/is becoming, as well as to the mother she is.

now that i'm a mother, i realize how difficult a task my sister took on. it has nothing to do with being single or having a lot of obligations. it's difficult because you're shaping a person who will one day shape the world. my sister has won awards, been given scholarships, and has numerous colleagues who will attest to her diligence in making the world a better place. however, the most important thing i see that she's done since becoming an adult is raising a daughter who will one day join her in changing the world.