My best friend is a single mom to a 5-year-old little girl, and being part of their lives has been one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever had.

I didn’t have the healthiest relationship with my own mom growing up, so watching my friend raise her daughter with so much patience, honesty, and love has healed something in me that I didn’t even realize was still hurting.

She listens to her daughter. She tells her the truth in ways a child can understand. And when she’s wrong, she apologizes sincerely and means it. Watching that kind of parenting up close has changed the way I see love and safety.

I live across the hall, and her daughter is always knocking on my door asking me to stop playing video games and play pretend with her. She’s imaginative, funny, curious, and has brought so much colour into my life. Sometimes I look at her and think about how badly I want the world to be kind to her. I never want anything bad to happen to her.

I recently started an education fund for her. My best friend doesn’t know yet, but I want her daughter to grow up knowing that having the chance to watch her become who she is was a privilege. And when the time comes, I want her to have every opportunity possible.

Green sprout coming out of toilet brush, pulled out and it had a root!