But watching her get her feet under her made me think about the rest of the family too. My daughter’s girls have made good choices, worked hard, and are stepping into lives that will carry them forward. They’re building something solid — you can see the path forming right in front of them.
Not everyone gets that kind of beginning. I’ve got nieces and nephews who, for all sorts of reasons — poverty, unstable homes, bad breaks, bad decisions — never got the same launch. When you start with nothing, you stay stuck with nothing. No transportation. No place of your own. No cushion to fall back on. And once you’re behind, every step forward feels like climbing a hill made of loose gravel.
It’s a reminder that “getting started” isn’t the same challenge for everyone. Some kids step into adulthood with a foundation. Others step into adulthood with a hole they have to climb out of first.
“Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path.” — Paulo Coelho
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” — Ian Maclaren
“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle
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