Dear 18 year old me:
1) Go visit your grandparents right after high school graduation like you should have even if they do live 15 hours away because 6 weeks after that your grandfather is going to die of a sudden heart attack and 11 years later you will still be wishing you had that one last chance to see him. But don't worry, 8 years after that, when you lose your grandmother to cancer, you will have grown up enough to visit her twice before she dies and you will be forever grateful you did! At least you will get to say goodbye to one of them.
2) Mom isn't quite as stupid as she seems. She actually does know a few things. Who knew?!
3) Don't let your dad pressure you into majoring in Art just because you have some talent and was offered a full scholarship on it. You already know you never plan to use a degree in Art and you will hate the classes and end up dropping out of college 3 months later.
4) On that same note, go ahead and earn that Master's Degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology that you are eyeing. Yes, 8 years sounds like a lifetime to go to school now but you are going to end up going to college off and on till you finally graduate at age 27 anyway so you might as well actually earn the degree you actually wanted PLUS your Masters BEFORE you start having kids. It's easier that way and you would probably feel more fulfilled.
5) You are NOT fat right now. You just don't realize it yet. Eat healthy and continue to exercise and don't fall for some lame weight loss scheme and you won't end up fat and be wishing you could get that 18 year old body back!!
6) Just say no to the credit cards until you are more responsible with the money!
7) Do NOT let someone talk you into moving into a house you don't really love just because they offer you free land. You will have years of problems living that close to your inlaws as a result and you will wish you had waited on the house for something you actually would have loved. Yes, you will eventually (10 years later!) start building a decent relationship with your inlaws but it still won't be what you had planned and will take you a lot longer to get that house you wanted. It's truly not worth the headaches.
8) When your husband's grandmother offers to buy you a used car right after you have your daughter and says it will be a "gift", just say NO! She is nearly 90 years old and will eventually get to a point in her mind where she thinks you owe her money for every gift she ever bought you and will cause family drama over it 4 years after that.
9) You know that guy you are just so in love with right now and plan to marry but everyone says you are too young? You are right about him and they are wrong. He's a pretty great guy and 5 years after you get married he will prove he's a pretty great father too. Don't change a thing where he is concerned.
10) You know how you always knew you wanted to be a mother someday and you knew you would love your kids so much it hurts? You may not have known everything at 18 but you got that one right. Your kids will be amazing.
11) Last but not least, yep, you will make mistakes no matter what I say to you. Even if you don't make the same ones over you will no doubt make a different set of mistakes because you are young, stubborn, and you know everything. Most importantly, you are HUMAN. Just remember that, despite all of your mistakes and shortcomings, you are still a great person and these will be used as great learning experiences. You will end up a wiser, stronger, and happier woman because of it. It's not going to go just as you planned but it will still be a pretty great ride.
Let that 18-wheeler get by you and then go on your way
