Dear sweet girl,

As you turn the big 1-0 today and officially enter the preteen years there are a few things I want you to know. Some life lessons that as you start making your way towards those oh-so-fun teenage years, I think will serve you great value.

I want you to first know that you are amazing and bright. You certainly are a special soul that touches everyone who meets you. Your kindness and willingness to help never goes unnoticed and your warmth + love for life is contagious. Don’t ever let the weighty-weight of the world get too heavy on your shoulders. For the darkest storms can make the brightest rainbows.

Dear sweet girl,

There will be mean girls. I wish it wasn’t true. I wish that it was some cliché thing that we say but sadly, it’s not. Mean girls + mean people do exist in this world. Just remember to stay true to who you are. Remember what it feels like if you are ever hurt by someone being mean to just be mean or to gain status. Remember, hurt people hurt people but that doesn’t make it okay. Always strive to be the person who says – I will have compassion for you, not take revenge. Because at the end of the day, it’s just you and the big man upstairs, and with that, you have to decide how you want to show up.

Dear sweet girl,

Believe or not there will be moments that you don’t like me. In fact, dare I say it, you will hate me. But that’s okay. Almost every girl, honestly every kid, feels that way.
I can handle it. 
I’ll always be here for when that wall comes back down. Even if it takes years. I’ll be here waiting for that hug again.

Dear sweet girl,

I wish I could say that the feelings that you will experience in the next several years will all be happy-go-lucky. Unfortunately, I can’t. There will be icky feelings. But just know that those feelings are not facts. And although it may feeeel like they are going to kill you.
I promise you, they won’t.
Just like anything, they are learning experiences for down the road.
Kind of crazy but those feelings are just preparing you for some of the most amazing experiences of true genuine emotions later in life.

Dear sweet girl,

Your body is going to change.
I know you may be excited, but there is a sneaky trick lurking with all of that anticipation.  There will be moments where that excitement fades, where what you thought was going to happen, is no where near what is actually happening, but that is okay, because here’s the thing. Evvveryone is going through exactly the same feelings about it all. Maybe not at the exact same time or to the same degree, but trust me it is there.
Learn to love your body now. To love what you were gifted with. It doesn’t matter what anyone else has or doesn’t have, focus on what you love about YOU.
For that same thought, don’t compare. Don’t do it! It’s not worth your time. Admire- sure, compare- don’t even bother. Comparison seriously is the thief of joy.
So love your body sweet girl . Because Surprise! It’s always changing. One day you will look back and say “oof, I wish I knew what I had back then!”
So heed my advice and take pride + joy in what you are rocking!

Dear sweet girl,

You will want to do it all. Any and every event you will want to do. But unfortunately you can’t do it and that is okay.
Be patient. You have your whole life ahead of you. I know it feels like this is the ONE AND ONLY party that will ever happen but trust me, there are bigger and better things to come for you. Missing one party will not ruin your life.
I promise you that.
There will be times where social gatherings and friends and even boyyys– [eww,gross] will seem more important than your family. This again, is a feeling and not a fact. Boys and friendships will come + go but family, that lasts forever

Dear sweet girl,

Sometimes you may mix up with the wrong crowd by accident. Just know that in the world we live, you are automatically always guilty by association. Whether that is a group sneaking into the movies, a couple of friends planning to pull a prank or even a group text on a phone or social media that goes south quickly, if your name is in it, you are guilty. Fair or not. That’s the way the world works.

Dear sweet girl,

There will be moments where life gets too heavy. Where you feel like all of those icky and new feelings are just too much [sometimes even the good ones!] You may want to give up. Don’t. Just don’t. That’s where you dig in deep and connect with God. When you feel like no one is on your side, and no one cares, or is listening know that HE IS there. He is always there and loves you so much.

Dear sweet girl,

Do what makes you happy. If that means wearing a blue skirt when everyone else is wearing pink. Then rock that blue hue girl.

Dear sweet girl,

Please know that the next several years may be rough. They may come at you like a tidal wave and take out your sails or they could just be a gentle summer storm that leaves you feeling a little bogged down. Either way, don’t ever let these years dampen your sprints. Don’t let that wetness pull you down but instead allow you to bloom + grow.

Dear sweet girl,

No matter what happens over the next several years, know that I will always be here for you. To hold you when you are sad and to listen to you complain about all of these things.
When the world seems rough, mean and unfair.
Whether you are 10, 20, 30 or 60.
I will be here. For you.

You will always be my baby girl.
My first-born babe.
My little mini-me.
You may forget from time to time,
but please try to remember
dear sweet girl
I will always be your mama bear
and you my cuddle bug.