Birthday Girl

7 years ago today I gave birth to my sweet baby girl.  You have been an endless source of joy for me, even when you're a rotten kid.  You are so happy and full of fun.  You are bright and kind and snuggly.

Being your mom is the greatest accomplishment of my life.  When you are polite and kind I can't believe I managed to teach you that.  When you are curious and chatty - I stop to encourage you.  When you are silly I revel in it.  When you need a cuddle or ask for a lullaby, I am happy to do it and cherish the memories of your baby days.

I want so much for you, baby girl.  I want you to grow into a secure and confident young lady; a strong and loving woman.  You have the potential to be everything I'm not, to take the good parts of daddy and me and meld them into a wonderful person.  Your faults are not worth focusing on because you have the potential to learn from your mistakes and to grow from them.

Find a partner in life who sees forever, who is in it for the long haul, and who will cherish you.  Know that relationships are about compromise, admit your mistakes, forgive others' mistakes, and move on.  If faced with a problem, ask if it will impact you in a week, a year, 20 years, and react to it with that in mind.

Choose a career that brings you happiness and potential - for it is that which will challenge you and bring you happiness.  You will spend so much of your adulthood working, that you should have something that will satisfy you.

Love well in life my sweet.  When you love you will receive love.  Karma is a wonderful thing, and if you treat others as you wish to be treated, it will all work out in the end.  Remember that every action has a consequence and choose as wisely as you can in the moment.  No one knows what the future holds, but try and 'hedge your bets' as they say.

And finally - never ever forget that I love you with all my heart and soul.  I will always listen to you and try to hear you as well.  I will parent you and mother you and try to make everything go my way, but will hopefully show grace in my defeat when you become your own (fabulous) person.  We won't always agree, but disagreeing doesn't mean not loving each other.  It just means we'll need to explain ourselves better to reach each other.