Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was 22 years old when I learned I would soon welcome my first child. I was excited, anxious, eager for the journey to come, but was also terrified because I couldn't keep a plant alive and would soon be trusted to raise a human. And so on the 6th day of the 6th month of the 6th year at 6 minutes to 9:00, I met Action Jackson. I was in awe of him. He was fiercely independent, terrifyingly fearless, relentlessly curious, and oh so sweet. This past weekend, that baby graduated high school.
As we stood for a family photo, him in his cap and gown, he stretched his arms around his dad and I and said, we made it, guys. For almost two decades, we have worked hard to raise one another. Our kids teach us so much, like it's okay to have big feelings, how to be fearless, the importance of staying curious, that being stubborn and assertive can sometimes serve us well, and patience, dear God, Mr. Speaker, they teach us so much patience. Them simply being them shapes us. As parents, we want our children to be safe, to be kind, and to experience moments of profound deeply rooted joy. We want them to know it is okay to not know what you want to be when you grow up as long as you know who you want to be, that how you treat people matters more than what's on your business card, that it's okay to fall of our path, step off your path, or even start building a whole new path, and to always remember that this world needs you in it.
I stand here today, 18 years later still excited, still anxious, admittedly still a little terrified, but oh so eager for the journey that is yet to come. Stay stubborn, stay curious, and stay you. Happy birthday, My Boy.
Happy Birthday to Jackson. Members' statements.
