A Letter to My Teenage Daughter...

Today is your Birthday!  It seems like yesterday I held you in my arms for the first time.  This sweet Irish lassie who melted my heart the minute I laid eyes on her.  You needed me to do everything.  You relied on me to fulfill your every little need.  I spent countless nights watching you sleep, praying that I would be the mother that you deserved.  I worried that I wasn’t doing things right.  I begged God to protect you from illnesses and keep you safe.  I didn’t know how I would protect you from all the things that could go wrong.

I blinked my eyes, and you started crawling and then walking. You needed me less but still needed me for so much. Before I knew it, you started dance class and found something you loved. You made new friends, including your best friend. At an early age, you showed such commitment and work ethic. You found a passion for dance and thrived. You were the cutest little Irish dancer I had ever seen. Your first performance, your first competition, both made me cry. You were growing before my eyes. 

Before long you started school. You were so excited. You gathered your supplies, put your uniform on, and began your academic journey. I was prepared for you to cry when I dropped you off. What I was not prepared for was for you to smile and wave goodbye as I left. You may not have cried, but I did. This was the moment I comprehended how quickly you were growing up and that you wouldn’t need me forever. With each year you became more independent. You were finding your way in this crazy world.

You developed new friendships, tastes, and opinions. Even though I don’t always agree with them, I respect them. You have surrounded yourself with friends, great friends. They are a wonderful group of young ladies that any mother would be happy to have around their daughter. They are kind and are always there for you. These are the kind of friendships I hope you will have throughout your life. I am sure you will have friends I don’t like in the future. I just hope I have given you the tools to weed out the friends that don’t have the same values that you have. You have been an excellent judge of character thus far, I have faith that you will continue to use good judgment. 

As I have watched you grow and mature, you have changed so much. However, all the things that make you so special have stayed the same. Your heart is pure gold. You love everyone and your heart breaks when you see someone suffering. You love volunteering and serving other people and animals. You stand up for kids being bullied. You cheer on others even when it is against you. Your friend’s wins are more important than your own. You are empathetic, compassionate and so very kind. My dear, you feel everything so deeply. As your mother, I have been blessed to see all these wonderful qualities that you possess. I know I am biased, but others see them in you as well. 

Now here we are, you are now a teenager. I have such mixed emotions. I am sad because you are no longer my baby girl who cried when I left the house. I am sad because you are closer to adulthood that you are to a baby. I am nervous because the teenage years can be full of heartache and angst. At the same time, I am excited because I can’t wait to watch you grow and see all the amazing things you will do. And believe me, you will do exceptional things. You have always wanted to make the world a better place, and I think you can. I know you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to. aak back and have regrets. Even with all the fun, you will have it is important to take school seriously. Work hard like you always have. To make your dreams come true, you need an education. Remember, you can be both smart and popular. Popularity is a tricky thing. It can be a blessing and a curse. Being popular isn’t everything, it does not make you a better person. In fact, it has been known to make nice girls mean. I have no doubt you will be popular, just use your popularity for good. Always remember how it feels to have your feelings hurt. Do you want to make someone else feel that way? 

Soon you will have your first boyfriend or girlfriend.  We have always taught you that Love comes in many forms, and we support you no matter who you love. Whatever love looks like for you, we just want you to be happy.  As long as they are good to you and treat you right.  I hope you trust and believe us.  You will break some hearts, and your heart will be broken.  It may feel impossible, but your heart will heal.  Make sure you keep it open, don’t let one looser keep you from happiness.  Just don’t rush it.  Trust your gut and make sure they are worthy of your love.

The next few years will be full of emotions and pressures. Just trust your gut, work hard, and enjoy the ride. Most importantly know that we love you and are here to help you get through it all. Enjoy the Ride!!

Love, Mom