She used to wear cat shirts and mismatched socks and silly pants.

But this is 15.

Now she’s up early to make sure her hair is just so and her socks are matching and you wonder how she grew up in front of your eyes.

15 is high school and new friends and old friends and navigating the world of dating.

15 is beautiful (short) homecoming dresses, even though her mom was just sure she would never let her buy that.

15 is late night studying and early morning practices.

15 is learning to drive (and making her mother nervous at every stop light!).

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15 stays in her room for hours—chatting with friends and binge-watching Netflix.

15 is dipping her toes into social media.

15 is text messaging her mother when she’s in the same house.

15 is starting to understand how hard this world can be and asking complicated questions (on her own time).

15 is hugs and smiles and laughs with Mom, then five minutes later thinking her mother is the worst person in the world, and 10 minutes later hugging her mom again.

15 is long legs and short shorts and baggy sweatshirts and clothes that were cool in the ‘90s (when her mom was 15).

15 will break your heart and make you ugly cry in the shower.

15 knows how to fold clothes and make meals and usually remembers to turn off the oven after baking cookies.

15 sleeps in on the weekends (if she’s not running to another activity) and stays up crazy late.

15 is already thinking about her future, but also wondering how she’ll manage it all.

15 makes you so proud and so frustrated.

15 is curious and hardworking, sassy and independent—but still needs Mom. And when she gives those great big bears hugs and falls into your arms, everything feels right with the world.

15 is one big adventure. Sometimes you’ll be there to watch it with her and sometimes, you’ll have to let her fly.

15 is beautiful and hard and messy and wonderful and it’s all going too fast.

15 is still young—but you can see the woman she is becoming. Sometimes you’ll glance her way and remember a little girl in pigtails and your heart will melt. And you will know one thing for sure about 15–you absolutely love watching the beautiful young woman she is becoming.