My 19-year-old daughter, Cameran, has been in a relationship for several years, and it has helped her grow into who she wants to be. She met her boyfriend, Casey, when they were 16 at a campground during the summer, and he lived about 35 minutes from us. Casey started as a friend and quickly became someone Cam could rely on.
The teenage years weren’t easy. Cameran struggled to find her footing after the pandemic, as so many teens did. Their milestone moments came during an unprecedented time in history that didn’t allow them a typical teenage journey. Casey is very kind and supported her first as a friend, which made it easy for their relationship to evolve.
When their relationship shifted, I wasn’t surprised
When they first got together, it seemed like a natural transition. I think I knew before Cam did that they were supposed to play an important role in each other’s lives.
She was interested in makeup and clothing. One of Casey’s favorite things to do was fish. Their differences only enhanced their relationship and allowed each of them to share interests. Cam learned to fish, and Casey watched shows he didn’t necessarily want to.
I’ve seen so many young relationships where kids get so consumed with each other that nothing else exists. Cam and Casey have always made time for outside interests and friends. That balance has helped their relationship grow and stay healthy, and it remains a bond I continue to admire and support.
It’s a joy to watch her love unselfishly and make decisions for herself
Watching the selfless way they love each other is a joy and a relief to me as a parent. Cam helped Casey navigate challenges in high school. Casey has been there for her and helped her through some difficult personal times.
When she wanted to move from Maine to Arizona to finish her college degree, Casey cheered her on. He was fully supportive of her decision to build a life and career for herself. He is going to stay in Maine while she is in Arizona. Casey will drive her car out with her, and they will go cross-country before she gets settled.
They are living together until she leaves. They budget and plan. They show maturity by paying bills and working through the challenges that come with moving in together. They often have to make compromises and have found a way to share the workload and make sure everything else gets done, like cooking and laundry.
As a parent, it means so much to watch someone be so supportive of her
Casey even helped Cam get her first new car for Christmas after the car she got in high school died. Where we live in Maine, it was difficult for her to keep attending the local community college and work part-time without a car.
Casey called me at work: “Nicole, I’m taking out a loan to get Cameran a car.” He had researched car and loan options and had a well-established line of credit, even though he was young.
I set up the insurance and made sure Cam didn’t find out about the car until it was time. The night he brought the car, a 2022 silver Nissan Altima, by the house, Cam came out into our driveway.
“Whose car is this?” she asked, confused because it was not Casey’s signature blue pickup. “Yours,” he said. There was shock, and a few tears as Cam and her younger sister looked over the car. Cam has since taken over payments, but without Casey getting the car in his name and paying for the first several months, it wouldn’t have happened.
Knowing Casey loves my daughter enough to put her needs first and take care of her the way I do means everything to me. I feel so lucky to watch them support each other and tackle adult milestones together. While no one can predict the future, these two have already built something very special, and that is the greatest takeaway for me as a parent.
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