There are those moments in a parent’s life that they will never forget; the day their child is born to be sure, along with the big moments – the first steps, the first lost tooth, the first dance, graduation – and the smaller moments as well. When these moments come upon us we tend to take a snapshot in our head so that we can remember every detail later on better than any photograph album ever could.

I surely reveled in all the firsts and accomplishments of my daughter as she grew up and getting her first job was no exception. She worked so hard all through college to earn her undergraduate degree while holding down several part-time jobs. And when she graduated she went right on to graduate school to earn her MBA. I could not have been more proud. Today, all this work has paid off as she has been offered a wonderful position with a terrific company.

While I am so happy for her I am also saddened by the fact that this job will take her to another state where she will living on her own. I will miss her terribly but know that this is the culmination of all her years of hard work and she deserves the reward. And so I am focusing on helping her decorate and prepare her very first home as a grown woman.

To surprise her I have purchased her a grandfather clock for her new house – something very similar in style to the one that I have in my living room; something that will always remind her of home.

She has always loved our grandfather clock and now I am able to give her one of her own as she celebrates this new journey in her life. I hope that it will bring her (and one day, her family) as much joy as it has brought us.