Dearest Daughter

Dearest Daughter,

I hope you know how much I love you.

As I sit down to write you this letter, I think of all the things I carried while I grew up.

I never want your small shoulders to have to carry the burden of a parent's choice.

My sweet little COVID baby.

Born during a pandemic.

We made history together my little one.

You are so beautiful. Always have been and always will be. I fell in love with you the moment I heard that first cry. You were utterly perfect back then and you bring out the best in me.

Never let anyone change your view on your self-image. You are beautiful and always will be to me.

You will have such an impact on people as you grow older. You already have done that at the age of three years old. You have a story to tell my dear and I hope you roar with that truth later in life.

There's a lot of things that I might never be able to tell you my sweet girl. I have so many things that I want to say to you but you're just not old enough to understand yet.

I vowed never to be my mother. This will make sense as you grow up.

I vow to cherish and honor your dreams instead of mocking them.

I remember your first time being bullied in front of me. Or well-bullied might not be the right word for it either. The first time you were excluded by someone. We were playing at a play center, and there were four other kids there. The boys played with your brother and they quickly became fast friends. You however were excluded by the two little girls. I thought to myself how could they do that to my baby. You were the same age as them. You wound up stealing the one girls doll and I had to explain to you that we don't steal other people's toys. I was so proud of you that day. When we left the center, you had such a pout on your little lip because something like that never happened to you before.

Well little one, that is how life goes. You get excluded, overlooked, and undervalued. But I never want you to forget what a gemstone you are to your dear old mother.

You light up my life, you light up your friend's at daycare with your spunky personality and quirks.

You are your brother's best-friend.

You will always be my daughter- never forget that.

Part of me wonders if you remember that day you were bullied because of your already brilliant brain. I hope you don't. I never want you to feel that way again but I know that isn't how life works. I can try my best to teach and protect you but sometimes life can just suck.

When you broke your leg at just 18 months old, I was overwhelmed at your bravery. You inspired me back then because of how fast you bounced back from an injury that most adults haven't received.

That was the day I decided you would become a nurse or a doctor. You could remember our family doctor's name at just two years old. Your brain never ceases to amaze me.

I love watching you play pretend. Your imagination is something I hope you never lose as you grow older and more mature. I love watching you fix your follies and studies with band aids.

I hope you find love one day. I hope that person makes you happy and I hope you get to create a beautiful life with them someday.

Part of me believed I was chosen to be your mom for a reason. You have taught me so much about life already.

I hope you grow up to be stronger than me. I hope you can learn from my mistakes as a human and watch me grow as a person.

I hope you cherish your memories with me- the good and the bad.

I hope you never give up on your dreams because little one, you and your brothers have given me mine.

My only daughter- my fierce little Queen.

I love you more than life itself.

With lots of love,

Your mother.