Dearest Daughter
My Dearest Daughter –
When they told me you were a little girl I was overjoyed. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I was secretly crossing my fingers to see pink.
You see, I thought a girl would be easier. I’m a girl. I have two sisters.
“I can do this,” I said to myself.
And then doubt crept in.
I know boys come with their own set of challenges, but for now I’m only worried about the delicate nature of a little girl.
You are my dearest daughter. My hopes for your life are endless, sweet Bauer. And so are my promises.
I promise you won’t ever see me spend too much time in front of a mirror. I promise to paint your nails and put bows in your hair, but while doing so I will tell you how smart you are. How your kindness makes me proud. I hope you will know that you are beautiful, but not find your worth in your appearance.
I promise to love your father and encourage him as the leader of our family. I hope you are as lucky as I have been in love. I hope wonderful men come into your life. They will fall hard for you. And while I will most likely doubt whether or not they deserve you, I hope you will protect their hearts. Winning the affection of another is never something to take lightly.
I hope you will see there is strength and beauty in femininity. In your lifetime you will see female presidents, CEOs and military leaders. I’m so thankful you will grow up in a world that encourages you to be anything you want – but I hope you see the strength that women embody even in the most traditional lives.
I hope if you are to be homecoming queen, it will be because you are friends with everyone. I hope you don’t fit into one specific clique. I hope you bring people together.
I promise to never let my own insecurities keep me from experiencing life with you. I promise to run into the ocean waves, even if I’m not feeling bikini ready. I know at one point or another, you will think more about your body image than you should. I hope that will be a short season of life for you.
I promise not to push too much of myself onto you. You might not get my green eyes or dark hair, but I hope you get my sense of compassion. Crying at the drop of a hat might not always be convenient, but only good can come from empathy.
Above all, I hope you know that you are loved my sweet, dearest daughter. If your personality at six months is any indication, I have a good feeling you will love life and be loved by many.
I love you,
Mom