A Letter To My Daughter On Her 5th Birthday

To my dearest sweet Chloe,

I can’t believe that you are now 5 years old. How fast time flies. It feels like only yesterday when I was putting you to sleep in my arms, softly singing you lullabies (ehem), changing your diapers, and getting excited by your first words. Now I can have a proper conversation with you, and now you are showing your personality.

My beautiful baby girl, I can’t even begin to express the joy I felt, a new type of love I had never experienced. You were and still are my first true love. You are mommy’s perfect little girl, and anything you go through we go through together.

I wish that you will grow up to be beautiful, intelligent, kind, and God-fearing. May all your dreams come true, and may you be surrounded by the love and support of your family and friends all the days of your life.Not everyone you meet is going to be kind. You will have to learn this the hard way, by having your heart broken and your trust broken. You will become a little less open, and a little more cynical. You will trust less, and guard yourself more.

People will say mean things and make you feel as though you’re not enough, or that you have to change to fit in. They will exclude you. They will be cruel. They will try to lead you to make bad choices, to go against what we have taught you, and you will make mistakes. Lots. And lots. Of mistakes.

Part of me wishes I could spare you from the pain that you are bound to experience. The part of me that wants to rush to you when you fall down also wants to rush to your defense when you encounter mean girls. The part of me whose heart aches with yours wants to protect you from everything bad.

Of course, I won’t do those things. I will not keep you from all bad things. I will not prevent mean girls from attempting their mind games on you. I will not spare you from pain and suffering. Because those experiences have value, too. You will learn how to handle adversity, and become an unstoppable woman. You will handle the mean girls, and become a better person for it. You will have your heart broken, and learn that you deserve better.

But through all of this, I want you to remember one thing, baby girl. To me, you are perfect. To me, you are everything. There is nothing you can do, nothing you can say, to make me think otherwise.

So I will be here to listen when you need an ear to bend. I will be here to hold your hand when you need a boost of courage. I will be here to wipe your tears when someone breaks your heart.

In me you will always have a safe place. A soft place to fall. A place where you can be totally, completely yourself, even if yourself is awkward, nerdy, self-conscious, unsure, know-it-all, sometime inappropriate girl who’s still trying to figure out exactly who she is.

Keep your faith strong. Keep your kindness unmatched. Keep your friendships beautiful. Keep your smiles bright. Learn all you can. Meet new people and discover new lands. You’ll be amazed how much the people in this world can teach you. But don’t forget to stay true to yourself. You only need to please God. Remember that. The rest will fall into place.

I love you to the moon and back, my love. Always and Forever.

With all the love a heart can hold,

Mommy.