Dear Daughter
Almost every night after I lay with you to sleep, I sit there and just stare at you. Your beauty is so innocent and so pure. I think of your smile and the way you get happy if you see a brand new box of Apple Jacks in the pantry. Little things mean so much to you, and I just want to hold on to this age forever.
The way you sleep with just a little nightgown on and wake up in the morning with your hair all in tangles and little crusties in your eyes. You wake up an extra hour early almost every morning just to see me before I go to work. Getting you ready every morning is the highlight of my day.
The way you look at yourself with happiness when you finally get the last tangle out of your hair and with not one trace of makeup, you look so beautiful.
I can’t help but worry about the years to come when you start to doubt how beautiful you truly are. When other peoples’ opinions start to matter to you, when you start to ask me to wear makeup and worry if your clothes fit right. I just wish you could always see yourself the way I see you.
The day you were born I couldn’t stop staring at your sweet innocent face and how much you have grown in 7 years amazes me. Watching you play and laugh with your little sister or how much you care and love your grandparents – your genuine beautiful heart takes my breath away.
The truth is that I learn so much from you every single day. I learn that I need to smile a little more like you, love life a little more like you and to be happy all the time – like you. It is so easy to fall into the gloomy days of this world. To be negative and to worry, to cry but if I was just a little bit more like you, my beautiful daughter, I would be able to appreciate and live life a little bit more.
I pray that no matter what life throws your way, or how hard it can get, that you never lose that little sparkle in your eye and the passion and love you have for the world. I hope you always know how beautiful you really are.
Because one day I know you won’t believe me.
