Buckle Up, Buttercup
On Saturday, day after 4th of July. I drove Milla and her friends to a new mall in Concord—just about 30 minutes from home. A simple little trip, right? But with teenagers in the car, every drive becomes a chance to teach, to reflect, and to grow.
They’ve driven with me before—on our trip to Wilmington, for example—and let’s just say… the seatbelt reminders are frequent. At this point, they know I’ll slam the brakes if needed. Not because I’m reckless, but because life throws unexpected things onto the road—literally.
So today, I got real with them.
“You want to ride with me? You take the risk. But if you care about yourself even half as much as I care about you, you’ll put your seatbelt on.”
It wasn’t a threat. It was love. Fierce mama love. Milla had even gotten bumped in the nose last time because she wasn’t buckled up. I reminded them: I pay attention. I drive with care. But distractions happen, and I need their cooperation—not just for me, but for them.
Then Came the Birds
As we laughed and talked, I saw two beautiful birds outside my window—soft peach-colored, graceful, flying right alongside my car. My heart smiled. It felt like a little sign of beauty, harmony, flow…
Until one of them swerved too close and hit my window.
It wasn’t loud or intense. I don’t think it was fatal. But it was enough to make me go quiet for a second. Because in that small moment, I felt something deeper stir in me.
That bird was just flying, just being—and yet it collided with something it didn’t expect. And it broke the moment.
And I thought:
“Isn’t that what I’m trying to teach the girls? That sometimes, we don’t see what’s coming. And that’s why we prepare.”
The Deeper Meaning:
This wasn’t just about seatbelts. It was about life.
About protecting the people you love, even if they roll their eyes at you.
About being the kind of driver—of cars, of energy, of this whole human experience—that sees ahead when others can’t.
About recognizing that even beauty, even innocence, can be vulnerable.
And that’s why I care too much not to remind them.
Every time we get in the car together, I’m not just transporting bodies—I’m guiding young souls. And it’s okay if they groan or giggle when I say it again:
“If you’re riding with me, wear your seatbelt. I care too much not to remind you.”
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With love & magic, 🦋♥️
Jenn SHEr The Divine Muse
⚛️🌀💟
