Having a daughter has been and is one of the hardest challenges of my young life. I was just 22 the day she was born, and I had no idea what the next ten years would bring.
Her favorite show as a little tot was The Backyardigans... then it was Dora the Explorer. I celebrated many times as Map and Backpack helped Dora with whatever adventure she was on.
My daughter became my immediate best friend; following me around, wanting to help cook, help with baby brother, help with the cleaning, cuddle and watch mommy's show with me... I never lacked for her company in those days.
Those days..... Sometimes I wish I could go back and tell my younger self how much she would treasure them later on. Because those days of toddler hood, well, they were long. They were hard. They were full of tears. Sometimes she cried too.
But those days are precious memories that I keep close to my heart. I'll never forget when she put on my heels and pranced around or when she wore a crown on her head for days because she was a princess.
The laughter, the giggles, the poses when the camera came out, and the hugs... oh, the sweet, little girl hugs. I will treasure those days.
I looked at my daughter yesterday, half grown... and thought about who she will become.
I hope she is strong. I hope she is confident. I hope she is kind.
I pray she is spiritual. I pray she is humble. I pray she is fiercely loyal.
I hope she sees nothing but good days, but I know the reality is she will face hard ones. I hope she has the faith to see those days through, and the wisdom to know who gets her through them.
I hope she always knows that I am here to offer encouragement and love. But I hope she understands her own ability to live her life and make her own choices.
I hope she makes good ones.
I pray for the woman my daughter will become. This world is crazy, and she will one day navigate it under a roof that is not mine. I pray she looks to God as the Lord of her life.
Being a mom to an emotional, beautiful girl has had it's challenges, and I know there will be more.
When she hurts, I hurt. I know there may be broken hearts in her future. What teenage girl doesn't experience at least a little pain? But I'll be right there with chocolate and a chick flick. I will be a listening ear if she chooses to let me hear her thoughts. Yeah, there is probably some pain ahead. But I am ready for the years to come. Because suddenly they don't seem long anymore. The years are flying by.
Having a daughter has been deeply rewarding. I am after all, raising my best friend. She may not follow me around the same way anymore, or offer to help clean (ha!) but we are ever learning to connect in new ways. I hope we remain close even into her adult years.
There is just nothing like the bond between mothers and daughters. #girlmom
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