Parenting is the single biggest, bravest job you will ever have. It is the most important job, one that takes a village to raise kids.

The main goal is to raise independent individuals who contribute their talents to the world, each with a unique purpose that nobody else can replicate. It is about using your wings and flying through life like a kite without someone holding onto the string.

In these pages, you will be exposed to our why, how we got here, and the mystery of where we will go from here. You will walk through our forest with us and see our truth. You will see a little girl in a yellow sweatshirt muddling through the forest to find her truth. You will meet those she leaves behind and discover what their path taught them about loving someone just to set them free.

You will see that, even though an ocean of tears will be shed, you can move forward with your life. You can grow, even if it's without them in it.

If you are the one who has left the family, you, too, are brave. I see you. I see that you did the biggest thing in your life. This is for you as well, as I unpack my baggage, exposing your why. But it's not just about the why, is it? It's about where you go from here, where you leave your mark on society and on all those you meet. It's about the trauma you carry with you to your next step. It's about the satisfaction of saying, "I did it on my own." It's about survival.

It's about being free--free from what has held you hostage, even though it was your loved one who did it. Come out into the light so we can see you, love you, and rejoice in your success. You are doing what we thought you couldn't. We need to see your light as you navigate this big world without us.

Carry on, my friend. Carry on.