Tag: News

• Walmart's outgoing CEO, Doug McMillon, discussed the plan for his next steps.
• After more than 10 years running Walmart, he said he's looking forward to taking a break.
• McMillon is part of a wave of retail CEO departures this year.

Walmart's departing CEO is preparing for a quieter 2026, and he sounds pretty thrilled about it.

Doug McMillon, 59, has spent the last 40 years at Walmart. For more than 10 years, he's been at the helm of the company, leading its more than 2 million employees.

In an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box on Tuesday, McMillon, who will step down as CEO early next year, said he isn't sure what's next for him but that he imagines it will involve some combination of business and philanthropy.

And in the short term, he'll be taking a break.

"I've never had a blank calendar, and I have now seen what one looks like in a few months — and it's kind of exciting," he said.

McMillon's resignation last month comes as a wave of retail CEOs have left — or have been pushed out — of their companies in the last year.

According to data from the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, retailers have reported 43 CEO exits year-to-date through October, a 34% increase from the same period last year.

These departures have included big names such Kroger's former CEO, Rodney McMullen, and Kohl's former CEO, Ashley Buchanan. Target's CEO, Brian Cornell, also announced that he'll be retiring next year.

This pattern has been playing out in the retail sector since the pandemic. The job of retail CEOs has become increasingly challenging as they navigate the disruption of AI, changing consumer behavior, and increasing labor costs.

McMillon said his departure was not driven by a lack of confidence in the company's future. During his tenure, Walmart's stock price has climbed 300% and he expects it to continue on that trajectory.

"I don't know if I am young or I am old," he said, when asked why he's departing before he's turned 60. "When you see somebody who is ready to run the next lap better and faster than you, it is time to hand the baton and get out of the way and just cheerlead."

John Furner, who will take over the helm in February, has worked his way up the ranks at Walmart since 1993 and met his wife while working there.

Ultramarine blue, or "true blue," was once more valuable than gold. In 1824, a synthetic version called French ultramarine made the color more accessible. But ultramarine blue made from real lapis lazuli can sell for over $60 an ounce today.

Lapis lazuli is a bright blue semiprecious stone mined primarily in Afghanistan. When Business Insider visited the world's largest lapis lazuli mine there, its future was up in the air. So, how is the world's most expensive color made, and why are people paying for it?

• Maunsel House, the ancestral home of a British aristocratic family, is on the market.
• The current version of the home is thought to date back to the late 14th century.
• Local legend says Chaucer wrote "The Canterbury Tales" here.

Are you interested in becoming the "Wardwick of the North Moor"? What about walking the same halls as Geoffrey Chaucer, Alfred the Great, King John, and Queen Matilda?

If so, do we have the property for you.

Maunsel House, an estate in Somerset, a county around 130 miles west of London, has been listed by Strutt and Parker with an asking price of £3.5 million, or around $4.68 million.

The 13-bedroom home also has multiple "unique" bathrooms, a bar (the oldest part of the house), a library, a ballroom, and a dining room. In its history, it has been used as a wedding venue, vacation spot, and filming location.

Maunsel House has been the seat of the Slade family since the 1770s, but its current owner, Benjamin Slade, is ready to part ways with it — for the right price, of course.

"This is the first time the home has been on the open market in several centuries, marking a significant moment in its long history," listing agent Oliver Custance Baker told Business Insider. He continued, "This is a rare opportunity to own a true piece of British history."

Slade has tried selling or even giving away Maunsel House in the past, as he has no children of his own and has said it's not easy to keep up the place. In fact, he told The Guardian in 2005 that it's "bloody hard work."

Here's a closer look at Maunsel House's breathtaking grounds and its history.

Maunsel House is a British manor home originally built in the 13th century.

It's on the market with an asking price of £3.5 million, or $4.66 million.

The building sits on 11.35 acres of prime English countryside real estate.

The main house has 13 bedrooms, all of which are described as "period" and "full of charm."

The oldest part of the house, nicknamed "The Bar," dates back to before 1066, according to the home's website.

Source: Maunsel House

Many British VIPs have passed through its halls since the 14th century.

Geoffrey Chaucer himself was said to have written "The Canterbury Tales" within its walls, according to local legend.

But since 1772, the estate has been owned by the Slade family.

Whoever buys Maunsel House won't just get the country home. The property also has two cottages.

There are also multiple gardens and an orchard.

If you wanted to spend a little extra, the current owner, Benjamin Slade, reportedly said he'd throw in the title of "Wardwick of the North Moor." It's a symbolic title, but rare.

Source: Tatler

A massive centuries-old mansion brimming with British history and a largely symbolic title could be yours … for a few million pounds.

• Business Insider asked interior designers which mistakes to avoid when decorating for the holidays.
• Not having a clear organizational system can make decorating a much more time-consuming process.
• It's important to consider your pets when decorating, as certain design choices can be hazardous.

As you make your home merry and bright this holiday season, there are a few things to consider to ensure the process is as fun (and painless) as possible.

So, Business Insider asked interior designers about the common holiday decorating mistakes people should avoid making to ensure everything is organized, festive, and safe for the entire family. Here's what they said.

Lacking a clear theme can make your house look less cohesive.

It's exciting to collect new holiday decorations, but over time, that could lead to some of your items not gelling together.

"It's OK to not use every single decoration piece that you possibly have," Linda Hayslett, principal designer for LH Designs, told Business Insider, adding, "At the end of the day, we always remember those homes that are curated."

Plus, she said that when you don't pull everything out each year, you have more options to switch things up in the future (without accumulating more stuff).

Not having a clear organizational system can make decorating — and cleaning up — a pain.

One thing Hayslett recommends doing to make decorating on-theme easier is grouping similar items together in storage. For example, all your decorations could be grouped by color and labeled accordingly.

She said this makes it easier to find what you're looking for in storage every year. Plus, if you really want to keep things organized, you can even color-code your storage bins.

"For my Christmas decorations, I have green and red bins. And then for Halloween, I have black and orange bins. And then for Thanksgiving, I have brown and yellow bins, " Hayslett told BI.

Placing decorations too close to the fireplace can be a safety hazard.

Placing decorations, especially real Christmas trees, garlands, or wreaths, near an in-use fireplace can be a safety hazard, Jennifer Beget, owner and principal designer of J Beget Designs, said.

For a safer alternative to achieving the festive look, Beget suggests placing faux battery-powered candles in the fireplace instead.

Using decorations that are past their prime can make a space look dated.

There's a big difference between showcasing vintage items and using decor that's long past its shelf life, and it's important not to confuse the two if you don't want your space to look dated.

One obvious sign that a piece of decor didn't last the test of time is if it's faded, Beget said, adding, "Some things just have to be retired."

Don't forget to consider your pets' safety.

Curious cats and dogs can go sniffing around your Christmas tree, resulting in broken ornaments and potential injuries.

"Personally, we have a cat who loves to go after the bottom of the tree, and so we always have to put items he won't be able to bite into or chew so he doesn't choke," Beget said.

Hayslett also suggested decorating a separate, smaller, pet-safe tree for your cat or dog as a potential distraction from the main tree in the house.

You can also avoid placing ornaments on low branches that pets can easily reach, and make sure they're placed evenly over the tree, so it doesn't tip over.

Not using a timer for your lights can cost you extra time and money.

Bending over or climbing behind the couch to plug and unplug your holiday lights every day can be a huge pain (literally).

So, Beget recommends using a timer to allow your lights to turn on and off automatically during the season.

Plus, it's a game changer for when it's cold or rainy, so you don't have to go outside and unplug all your cords, Begets added.

And who doesn't love saving a little money on their electric bill?

• Trump announced a proposed settlement to officially end the SAVE student-loan repayment plan.
• If a court approves the settlement, borrowers on SAVE will have a limited time to enroll in a new plan and resume payments.
• The settlement ends over a year of litigation over the affordable repayment plan.

The door is about to permanently close on a major student-loan repayment plan.

On Tuesday, the Department of Education announced a proposed settlement with the State of Missouri, which, if approved, will officially end the SAVE student-loan repayment plan established by former President Joe Biden.

Biden rolled out the SAVE plan in July 2023, which was intended to provide student-loan borrowers with affordable monthly payments and a condensed timeline for debt relief. In April 2024, Missouri joined other GOP-led states in filing a lawsuit challenging the plan. Borrowers enrolled in the plan have been on forbearance since last summer, while the legal challenges continued.

The department said in a press release that, should the court approve the settlement, the department will not enroll any new borrowers in SAVE, deny pending applications, and move all enrolled borrowers to existing repayment plans.

"The law is clear: if you take out a loan, you must pay it back," Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a statement. "Thanks to the State of Missouri and other states fighting against this egregious federal overreach, American taxpayers can now rest assured they will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for illegal and irresponsible student loan policies."

If the settlement is approved, the department said that borrowers enrolled in SAVE "will have a limited time" to select a new repayment plan and begin repaying their loans. The department and federal servicers are expected to reach out to SAVE borrowers in the coming months with more information.

Trump's administration has indicated its intent to end the SAVE plan for months, with a phase-out of the plan by 2028. The announcement of this proposed settlement accelerates that timeline. On August 1, the Department of Education resumed interest charges on SAVE borrowers' accounts, and the Education Sec. Linda McMahon said at the time that she recommended borrowers transition to "a legally compliant repayment plan," like income-based repayment.

The department is working to carry out changes to expand eligibility for income-based repayment, like removing the requirement to have partial financial hardship, which is set to be completed in December 2025. The "big beautiful" spending legislation that Trump signed into law also included plans to eliminate SAVE and introduce two repayment options for borrowers, effective July 2026.

It's unclear when these changes will take effect. However, borrowers who leave SAVE will likely face higher monthly payments should they enroll in a different plan.

• Growing up in Portland, Oregon, was magical, but I hated my hometown the way angsty teens often do.
• To my surprise, I moved back to my hometown in my 30s and realized it's the perfect city for me.
• I love Portland's quirks, strong sense of community, natural beauty, food, and LGBTQ+ nightlife.

Portland, Oregon, isn't perfect.

It's not particularly diverse, and most restaurants close way too early for anyone under the age of 60. The "Pacific Northwest freeze" is a real thing: People here can be simultaneously too nice and impossible to befriend.

When I left Portland in my early 20s to travel the world for almost a decade, I didn't think I'd ever move back. Growing up there was pretty magical, but I hated the city in the way most angsty teens hate their hometown.

Then, amid the coronavirus pandemic, I booked a flight back to Portland to be near family. Five years later, I'm still here — and I can't see myself living anywhere else. Here's why.

The access to nature is unbeatable

Portland is surrounded by natural beauty.

Locals love to brag that you can be in the mountains or on the coast within an hour and a half — a luxury few cities can claim.

Believe it or not, you can even be in the rainforest in half an hour, surrounded by ferns and fluorescent-green moss.

I regularly make the scenic drive to the Columbia River Gorge, a historic stretch dotted with tunnels and waterfalls, when I need to clear my mind. Stopping to stand at the base of a 620-foot waterfall and get misted in the face never fails to do the trick.

The natural beauty really is everywhere. On a casual walk around my neighborhood, I've found everything from fresh blackberries and wild bunnies to roaming chickens and secret gardens filled with dahlias and roses.

Our local food scene is on par with major metropolises

I'm convinced Portland has more outstanding restaurants per capita than any other city.

Though the city is predominantly white, my taste buds have been thrilled in recent years to see diversity reflected in Portland's rise to foodie fame.

The star of the show is Kann, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant by Gregory Gourdet, where "Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty," and an absolutely mind-blowing plantain brioche meets my mouth.

Then there's Jinju Patisserie, named the country's most outstanding bakery at the James Beard Awards earlier this year. There, two Korean-born pastry chefs whip up croissants that rival any I've had in Paris.

But award winners barely scratch the surface. My personal list of outstanding local Thai restaurants is longer than my Trader Joe's receipts.

Plus, Portland is especially known for its food trucks, which is how I first tried Guyanese food (at Bake on the Run), snow-cheese Korean fried chicken (at Frybaby), and Puerto Rican-Philly fusion dishes (at Papi Sal's).

The LGBTQ+ nightlife feels truly queer

I came out after leaving Oregon, and before moving back, I'd only lived in areas where the LGBTQ+ community was either small or centered on gay men.

Portland is the first time I've felt included, and the queer community here is at the heart of why I chose to stay. This city's LGBTQ+ community feels refreshingly queer.

My friends and I joke that most bars in Portland are gay bars just because the local population has so many queer folks. Many popular nightlife spots regularly host LGBTQ+ events, even if they aren't specifically "gay bars."

On any given weekend, I might have to choose between a "Twilight"-themed drag show, an LGBTQ+ storytelling event, a queer pie-eating contest, a lesbian dance party, or a trans wrestling match.

Because it rarely takes me longer than 15 minutes to get anywhere around the city, I can try to squeeze all the events in.

And when I wake up exhausted and hungry on Sunday morning, I can join my fellow Portland gays doing what we love most — waiting in inordinately long brunch lines.

Portland has a community for even the quirkiest hobbies

If you've got a special interest, you're bound to find a group of people here who are loudly and proudly into the same thing, no matter how niche or offbeat.

Can you guess where I've made the most friends in Portland? If you said, "a weekly '80s-themed mall walk in the city's half-abandoned Lloyd Center mall," you'd be right.

When I picked up rollerskating during the pandemic, I was thrilled to learn that the city runs a "secret roller disco" every week in undisclosed pop-up locations like warehouse parking lots (and the same half-abandoned mall).

Over the summer, I participated in a watermelon-wrestling fundraiser. In the fall, I got to take an entire four-week class about 1970s cult horror in the back room of Movie Madness, one of the country's only remaining video-rental stores.

All in all, I've fallen for the city

The older I get, the more I appreciate that Portland doesn't feel like a city, but rather it's a bunch of neighborhoods quilted together.

It's easy to feel welcome here when there are free tiny libraries and flyers for different clubs and events around every corner.

Everything I love about Portland, from the hiking trails to my favorite Thai soup spot (shoutout to Khao Moo Dang) to the drag scene, comes down to one thing: community.

It's an elusive concept I spent most of my 20s searching for in far-off places. In an ironic twist of fate that really pleases my mother, I ended up finding it in my hometown.

• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway revealed a raft of leadership changes on Monday.
• Todd Combs is leaving, Marc Hamburg will retire, and Berkshire is hiring its first general counsel.
• Berkshire gurus broke down what the moves mean and warned of more departures as Buffett prepares to retire.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced its biggest management shake-up in decades on Monday, including a surprise exit, a retirement, and a new position.

Close followers welcomed the moves, but two warned they could mark the start of a wider exodus as the legendary investor enters his final weeks as CEO after six decades in charge.

Greg Abel, the head of Berkshire's non-insurance operations, is poised to take the reins from Buffett on January 1.

Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner at McKinsey and coauthor of "A CEO for All Seasons," told Business Insider that a leadership shuffle often accompanies a CEO change.

"Getting the top team right is the CEO-elect's most important early decision," Dewar said, adding that a CEO's "real leverage comes through leaders" and if they're "not aligned, capable, and energized for the next chapter, no strategy can take hold."

John Longo, a finance professor at Rutgers Business School and the author of "Buffett's Tips," told Business Insider there are parallels to a "new football coach wanting to install his own offensive and defensive coordinators."

Dewar also said a CEO transition is often an "unfreezing moment" for a company's leaders, prompting them to "step back and reflect" on whether they want to keep working under the new boss or make a change as well.

Marc Hamburg doesn't get enough credit

Berkshire's finance chief of nearly four decades, Marc Hamburg, will hand over his responsibilities to Berkshire Hathaway Energy's finance boss, Charles Chang, in June 2026, but hold off on retiring until June 2027 to ease the transition.

Adam Mead, the author of "The Complete Financial History of Berkshire Hathaway," told Business Insider that Hamburg was "probably the least appreciated person in Berkshire from the outside looking in." Mead said his "contributions to structuring deals and managing the financials can't be overstated."

Hamburg's willingness to work with his successor for a full year is a "testament to his commitment to Berkshire and its longevity," Chris Bloomstran, the president of Semper Augustus Investments and a Berkshire shareholder for 25 years, told Business Insider.

He likely remained in his role for so long "out of loyalty to Berkshire and to Warren," Bloomstran added.

Adam Johnson could be the first of several divisional chiefs

NetJets CEO Adam Johnson has been appointed president of Berkshire's 32 consumer products, service, and retailing businesses — a group that includes See's Candies, FlightSafety, and Fruit of the Loom.

"Installing a respected senior operator to support dozens of business-unit CEOs both strengthens those businesses and creates needed bandwidth for Greg as he assumes overall responsibility," Lawrence Cunningham, the author of several books about Berkshire and the director of the University of Delaware's Weinberg Center, told Business Insider.

As CEO, Abel will continue to oversee Berkshire's other non-insurance businesses, such as the BNSF Railway, Pilot, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

David Kass, a finance professor at the University of Maryland and longtime Buffett blogger, told Business Insider that he expected Abel to pick someone to supervise those "very large" businesses in the near future.

Mead predicted Abel would appoint more divisional heads, emulating a Berkshire-owned conglomerate named Marmon, which has divisional presidents overseeing its more than 100 businesses.

Todd Combs may or may not be replaced

Buffett hired Todd Combs in 2010 and Ted Weschler in 2011, tasking the hedge fund managers with helping him to pick stocks for Berkshire. Combs also took over as Geico's CEO in 2020 and spearheaded the auto insurer's rebound this year.

Combs, widely seen as a key leader of post-Buffett Berkshire, is leaving to head up a new investment unit at JPMorgan and be a special advisor to CEO Jamie Dimon.

Kass predicted Berkshire would find a replacement for Combs to help Weschler manage Berkshire's more than $350 billion worth of cash and roughly $300 billion stock portfolio.

Bloomstran said Weschler might take charge of a larger chunk of Berkshire's portfolio and be a "sounding board" for Abel on major investments, or at least take over Combs' allocation if he hasn't already.

Nancy Pierce is a classic Berkshire pick

Geico's operating chief, Nancy Pierce, has replaced Combs as CEO after nearly 40 years at the company. She's "tremendously qualified" for the job, Bloomstran said.

Pierce's appointment is "pure continuity," Cunningham said, adding that her long tenure, deep experience, and strong endorsement from insurance boss Ajit Jain are "all very on brand for Berkshire."

Michael O'Sullivan is building on Charlie Munger's legacy

Michael O'Sullivan will become Berkshire's first-ever general counsel on New Year's Day. Prior to joining Snap as general counsel in 2017, O'Sullivan spent more than two decades at the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, cofounded by Buffett's late business partner, Charlie Munger.

Cunningham said O'Sullivan's appointment is a "prudent modernization and a natural evolution of the Munger lineage inside Berkshire."

Bloomstran said the new position was "interesting but not surprising" as Berkshire has long relied on Munger, Tolles & Olson as external counsel, and cofounder Ron Olson recently retired from Berkshire's board, where he likely served as an informal legal advisor.

More changes may be coming

Kass underscored that no other senior leaders are leaving Berkshire and said it's "critically important" that Jain and other senior insurance bosses, such as Joe Brandon, "remain in place to smooth this management transition."

Meyer Shields, a managing director at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods who's been covering Berkshire for more than 15 years, said in a research note that his team "expect more turnover" in the months ahead, as the cachet of "working for Mr. Buffett's successor is not (at least yet) the same as working for Mr. Buffett himself."

Brett Gardner, the author of "Buffett's Early Investments," told Business Insider there's "justifiable concern that some people want to work for Warren Buffett and not Berkshire Hathaway."

Gardner said that might not be the case with the latest moves, but it's "something to watch out for."

Complicating matters is the reality that many of Buffett's most trusted lieutenants are "past retirement age already," he added.

• Trump's top AI advisor took to X to clarify the administration's goals with AI preemption.
• AI Czar David Sacks said that AI preemption won't force data centers onto people.
• He said the administration was making "an attempt to settle a question of jurisdiction."

President Donald Trump's top AI advisor is seeking to clear up any confusion about the administration's AI preemption plans.

In a lengthy post on X on Monday, White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks said that a forthcoming executive order to restrict states' ability to regulate AI is "an attempt to settle a question of jurisdiction."

Sacks, a venture capitalist and a co-host of the "All In" podcast, sought to address various concerns about AI preemption, which has proved to be a controversial topic even within Trump's coalition.

He called those concerns the four Cs — child safety, communities, creators, and censorship.

Regarding communities, Sacks said that AI preemption has little to do with the construction of data centers, which have become a political flashpoint in states around the country due to those centers' heavy water and energy demands.

"AI preemption would not apply to local infrastructure. That's a separate issue," Sacks wrote. "In short, preemption would not force communities to host data centers they don't want."

He also said that state laws requiring platforms to protect against online predators and child sexual abuse material would remain in effect, because AI preemption wouldn't apply to "generally applicable state laws."

The administration appears to be moving forward with an effort to curtail state power to regulate AI, arguing that forcing companies to comply with competing regulations across 50 states will hamper the US's competitiveness in the AI race with China.

While it's unclear exactly what's in the forthcoming executive order, a draft seen by Business Insider last month would direct the Department of Justice to sue states over "onerous" AI laws.

It comes after multiple attempts to enact AI preemption via Congress, most notably in the "Big Beautiful Bill." That provision was ultimately struck from the bill before passage due to opposition from several Republicans.

Sacks wrote on X that the administration will "continue to work with Congress to define a federal framework that can be enacted through legislation." But that hasn't stopped the pushback from other Republicans.

"Nice framework," replied Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio. "This should be a law, not an executive order."

• In January, my husband and I sailed from Barcelona to Rome on a winter cruise.
• With fewer crowds, it felt like we had the Mediterranean to ourselves as we toured famous sites.
• Despite the chilly weather, we had an amazing time, and I'd love to visit during this season again.

When I found out that Windstar Cruises had begun winter sailings to the Mediterranean, I couldn't book fast enough.

I'd visited France, Italy, and Greece during the summer months before, and I had grown increasingly disillusioned each year as Mediterranean Europe became more crowded, expensive, and uncomfortably hot.

It seemed like a January cruise would help me avoid a lot of my past grievances, so I booked Europe's Winter Riviera eight-day itinerary on Windstar, sailing from Barcelona to Rome with stops in Nice, Genoa, and Livorno, the port city for excursions to Florence, Pisa, and Lucca.

After a week of seeing these iconic destinations in a whole new light, I went home with the conviction that winter is the absolute best time to take a Mediterranean cruise.

I loved feeling like I had the Mediterranean to myself

Rather than stumbling through hordes of tourists filling Barcelona's streets, trying to find towel space on a beach in Nice, or waiting hours in lines to enter the Vatican museums, I felt like I had a lot of memorable places to myself.

That's probably because I visited during what Windstar calls the "Local Season," the time between late fall and early spring, when this area typically welcomes far fewer tourists.

Fewer crowds and shorter lines meant I could see more of each city I visited throughout the cruise. I took all the time I liked exploring each place and capturing it all without having to erase throngs of people from my photos.

On one excursion, my small group climbed the medieval village of Èze on the French Riviera — a popular spot often filled with cruise passengers and tourists — and never saw another person. I loved taking in the sweeping views of the sea, unobstructed by massive cruise ships.

In Florence, no more than 20 people circled Michelangelo's famous David statue. And in Rome, my husband and I purchased tickets to the Colosseum 15 minutes before our scheduled entry time and were allowed to enter even earlier.

We felt like VIPs with special access to the best of the region — quite different from the summer months when we had to wait for hours just to get close to an attraction.

Though we had to adapt to the weather, the special winter experiences were worth it

We may have escaped the sweltering heat the Riviera is famous for in the summer, but we did experience some chilly weather.

By our hometown of Houston's standards, it was cold, with morning temperatures dipping into the 40s and afternoons hovering in the 50s — and we were not prepared. Luckily, hats and scarves were readily available and cost about 10 Euros, so we managed.

And, we had to give up some usual summer fun, including relaxing on the ship's deck, which meant spending a bit more time indoors.

I really didn't mind, though, especially since sailing during this season came with some special seasonal activities and spots.

Some winter itineraries include cities Windstar only visits (or spends extra time in) during winter, when there are typically fewer crowds and ships.

Another perk of cruising during the winter is the opportunity to experience seasonal events and activities.

For example, while docked in Nice, France, cruisers can travel less than an hour from the port to visit Menton's Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival), held annually starting in mid-February. The two-week festival features giant floats and structures made of fruit, as well as performances, parades, markets, and more.

All in all, I think winter is the absolute best time to visit

As an added bonus, our winter sailing was hundreds of dollars cheaper than a similar one at peak season in June and July.

Of course, if your dreams of the Mediterranean include sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the sea, this isn't the vacation for you.

But for me, the positives far outweighed the negatives. We got to see so much more than we could have during the summer months, without the crowds — and for that, I'll pack a cozy hat and gloves any day.

• I became pregnant with my oldest daughter during my senior year of college.
• Now, she's applying to college herself, and it's making me realize how young I really was.
• I'm so excited for her future, while also dealing with some surprising feelings of grief for myself.

I've been helping my 17-year-old daughter, a senior in high school, apply to college.

I've watched her type her applications, and it sparked a flashback to when I sat in the kitchen of my run-down college apartment and learned I was pregnant with her.

I'll never forget the look of the brown linoleum floor illuminated under the harsh fluorescent light, its buzzing the only other sound competing with my sobs. My boyfriend held his head in his hands, the positive pregnancy tests fanned around him like the color sticks at a nail salon.

Is it really possible that I was only a few years older than my daughter is right now? She, who still prefers me to run in and grab the smoothie I preordered because she doesn't like to talk to people? The girl whose room is messier than I ever thought possible? The one whose kindergarten picture was so perfect it took my breath away?

I can't even fathom what it would look like for her to be facing down motherhood in a few short years, so it's stirred some new emotions up for me.

I was so young when I found out I was pregnant

I distinctly remember my boyfriend picking me up for class at the beginning of that semester. The sun was shining, my gold hoops were swinging, and as I hopped into his truck, I felt a surge of hope and excitement for the future.

That was a few weeks before I would realize that my period was not coming after all. Looking at my daughter now, it's finally hitting me: I was so young.

The naive self-confidence of my younger, college self crumbled that night in my apartment kitchen, and I can't say that I ever regained it. Becoming a mother at any stage can have that effect on you. It carves you apart, empties you out, and makes you question everything at all times forever.

I grieve for my younger self, but I was always meant to be her mother

Now, as my teenage daughter teeters on the cusp of the age I was when I had her, I feel a little bit of loss and grief for my own self at her stage.

Seeing her with the world at her fingertips reminds me of how I felt just before she came into existence. I had no fears. I was confident in a way I would never be again.

But what I remember the most, among the uncertainty, the anxiety, and the complete reorganizing of myself, is the moment I met her, the instant the nurse laid her on my chest. The moment my newborn baby nestled herself into me, burrowing, it felt as though she had straight into my heart; I felt a complete recognition, like nothing I could ever describe. My only thought was, Oh. It's you.

I remember a complete calm settling into my being, as if we were two souls who had known each other forever, simply meeting again.

I'm excited for all the opportunities she has before her

I feel like I've spent the past 18 years learning who I am with her and because of her. Overnight, I'm supposed to relearn what it's like to live without her here. I feel a mixture of fear and excitement for her future, much like I did in those early days of her existence.

I also feel grief for the girl I was when I had her, but I don't want her to share in that grief.

I want her to feel the freedom I had at her age, even if I acknowledge the loss of my own.

I want her to have a life I did not have, while never, for a second, feeling guilt for her life.

I want things that feel impossible, for both of us. But she has the world at her fingertips now, and I want so much for her to embrace every bit of it, maybe, selfishly, for both of us.

And no matter what happens, I hope and pray that we can always find our way back together, just like that moment we first met, when I can hold her close again and whisper, Oh, it's you.