I got to be the cool mom for exactly 5 hours. AMAZING.

I took Alexis to WE Day in Ottawa today, which was every bit as incredible and motivating as one would expect if they've ever been to a WE Day.

16,000 inspirational kids who earned their ticket through volunteer work.

Dedicated educators who ignite the spark in those kids.

Enthusiastic change-makers from all walks of life.

Our new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was there with his wife, Sophie. (I didn't get a chance to meet him, but if I had, I would have talked to him about this letter.)

And we even got to meet and hang out with Hannah Alper, who is one heck of a great human being.

Hannah and Alexis. Two young ladies I admire.

After we left, Alexis said to me, wistfully, "I really wish I could help change the world. I just don't know how..."

"Do you not think you make a difference?" I asked her, incredulously.

"Not really," she said. "I'm just me."

It dawned on me then that my daughter might share her story (and let me share it, too), but she doesn't always read the emails people send me about how that story impacted their lives. I don't always tell her about the trans person who writes to say they feel more hopeful because there are families like ours out there, or the dad who sends me a message saying, "I didn't get it, but now I do. If one of my kids comes out, I'll know to let them be who they are."

She hasn't been there the handful of times I've been approached by mothers who tearfully tell me about their own children and the struggle they're having coming to terms with it all. For some, I'm the first person they've ever told, and I can feel a bit of the weight being lifted off their tired shoulders.

But that's okay. I don't want Alexis' whole world to be trans this and trans that. It's just a part of her, not the whole of her. I want her to be a typical kid most of the time, with school and friends and trips to the mall, with a little advocacy work sprinkled here and there when it suits her.

But she doesn't know, I realized. She really doesn't know. And again, most of the time that's probably a good thing.

But today, on a day filled with inspirational people, I wanted her to understand that she's pretty inspirational, too.

We pulled into a grocery store parking lot and I turned off the engine. I wanted to get her full attention.

"Alexis," I said, and made sure she was looking at me. " You being you is exactly how you're making a difference."

"You think?" she asked.

"I know," I replied, trying not to tear up and be the super lame mom. "Now let's go inside and get some cookies."

She might drive me crazy some days (and eat all my cookies), but that kid is my damn hero.