Unprepared, and Exactly Where I’m Supposed to Be

Can You Really Prepare for Life?

I’ve been reflecting on this idea of being prepared for life. As parents, we tell ourselves that if we plan carefully enough, think far enough ahead, and anticipate every milestone, we can handle anything. But lately, I’ve been questioning whether that’s even possible.

Parenting Hits You in Waves

My daughter is twelve and a half now, right in the heart of adolescence. And over the past few weeks, it’s hit me hard: she’s not a little kid anymore. I knew this stage would come—every parenting book, every older parent tells you it will—but nothing truly prepares you for how it feels when it actually happens.

It’s a strange mix of pride, nostalgia, and grief. It’s watching your child grow into who they’re meant to be while feeling pieces of their childhood slip away. And no matter how much I thought I was ready, I wasn’t.

The Power of Sitting With Unpreparedness

At first, that realization shook me. I kept thinking, Shouldn’t I have seen this coming? Shouldn’t I have been more prepared? But the longer I sit with these feelings, the more I realize that maybe we aren’t supposed to be fully prepared for these moments.

Maybe certain experiences—like watching your child grow up—are designed to break us open. To move us so deeply that all we can do is be here for them. Present. Raw. Humbled.

And maybe that’s where real emotional growth happens—not in controlling the moment, but in surrendering to it.

The Universal Love Beneath It All

What I keep coming back to in all of this is love. Not just parental love, but something deeper. A universal, God-like energy that feels like it’s holding all of this together.

This kind of love isn’t romantic or forced—it’s raw and natural. It’s the love we come from, the love we’re made of. It’s what makes even the hardest parenting moments feel sacred.

Maybe It’s Not About Being Prepared—It’s About Being Present

I’m starting to believe that real preparation for life isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trust. Trusting myself. Trusting the process of parenting. Trusting that even in the discomfort of change, I’ll find my footing.

And trusting the universe—that mysterious energy that somehow keeps moving everything forward.

Maybe being unprepared isn’t a failure at all. Maybe it’s an invitation.

What If We All Came Back to Love?

I believe if we, as individuals and as a society, could root ourselves in that kind of love—if we could reconnect with it—we’d find more peace. More contentment. More connection. More togetherness.

Maybe we don’t need to be fully prepared for everything. Maybe we just need to be fully present for it.