Today, On your real birthday – the second one celebrated in this pandemic, no less! I can’t believe we got here already.

Everybody online always cries about how HARD the diaper years are to get through. The sleepless nights. The poopy explosions. The fussy eaters. But the truth of the matter is that they haven’t gotten to the real struggle …yet. Did they forget what it was like when they were teens themselves?

I’m not saying you were a difficult child because I think you are a GEM compared to how I WAS growing up. But I had you through your teen years… And when two strong women face each other day in and day out, it can be a bit exhausting.

But exhaustion does not mean a lack of love and that’s why I wanted to write a letter to my daughter. I wanted to tell her everything I hope she already knows but still needs to hear from her mom. That deep down – I still see her. My little girl.

I miss you. Before I say anything else about love or admiration, I need to start there. Because with every single day that you age, it seems that you step one foot further into being my best friend…. instead of my daughter.

I am so proud of who you are becoming, my shining light. I’ve said this to you a million times and I will say it to you a million more. The gods gave me you because you are good – wholly and from the inside.

You see the world in such a special way. You haven’t been affected the way I have and I don’t think your perception will ever change. You are the ying to my yang. I am the “everyone is trying to kidnap you” and you are the “maybe they just want a hug” energy in our family. I think we need both.

Your children are special… Do you want to know how I know? Because I already went on that ride and it sucked. You actually have it so much worse than we did 25 years ago… and yet they got you. and you are good.

I can’t imagine what you deal with on a regular basis.

We’ve discussed this before – how the media is corrupt and designed to make us feel bad about ourselves just so we can continue to buy things. Hold onto that.

You are beautiful. Don’t ever forget that.

You Make Me So Proud

A letter to my daughter wouldn’t be complete without me telling you that you make me proud on a daily basis. I know this life has been tough and unfair. You made the best of it. You are resilient. You adapt and are capable of taking on so much more than you give yourself credit for – please know this.

Always Have Fun

I see you with your friends. You are crazy. You are the crazy girl with lots of laughs. Don’t ever lose that. It’s who you are. There will be moments in your life where the world might try to dull that. Don’t let it. Hold onto that superpower.

Happy Birthday Heather Feather…. you are soooooo loved.