This article, “Important Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Life,” was originally published on 04/01/23 and has been updated.
Tomorrow, we’ll be celebrating my daughter’s 17th birthday (WOO-HOO!) And even though it’s a joyous occasion—I’m going through a range of emotions as I write this post. I’m torn between loving the beautiful young woman she’s becoming and wishing she could stay my little girl forever—motherhood is a bittersweet journey.
The truth is, it amazes me how fast time flies. I can’t believe it’s been 17 years already since I became a mom! Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of lessons about parenting… and life in general. And there are so many things I want to teach my daughter as she grows older.
To celebrate her 17th trip around the sun, I’ve compiled a list of 17 things I’d like to tell her—things I hope she would always remember.
- No matter how old you get, where you are, or what you do—you can always come back home.
- You don’t need to have everything figured out by age 18, 21, or even 30. Life is ever-changing. Create goals and plans, but be flexible and enjoy the journey.
- Always believe in yourself and your abilities—not in an arrogant way, but in a confident way.
- Love your body and appreciate all the amazing things it does for you.
- The right way won’t always be the easy way.
- It’s the quality of friends you have that matters most—not the quantity.
I tell my daughter every morning, “Now, what are the two most important parts of you?” And she says, “My head and my heart.”
Viola Davis
- Fall in love with yourself before anyone else.
- If you don’t succeed the first time, keep trying.
- Don’t compare yourself to others—because everyone’s journey is beautiful and unique.
- Someday, you’ll realize that being different is a SUPERPOWER.
- You’ll never be everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s OK.
- God will always have your back. Always.
- Laugh out loud every chance you get!
- Everything you see on social media is not reality.
- Life will never be perfect, but it’s still beautiful. Look up from your phone and enjoy the view!
- Focus on the inside, and the outside will fall into place.
There are so many life lessons I want to teach my daughter as she grows, but I know that she’ll have to experience certain things for herself. With this in mind, my hope is to instill in her the courage to stand tall throughout all of life’s chapters. Above all, I want my daughter to have a happy, healthy life. And I hope to celebrate many more bittersweet birthdays in the future!
78 responses to “17 Important Things I Want My Daughter to Know About Life”
This is such a touching post! My daughter is only 7 right now but I feel like time is absolutely flying by. These are such great things to teach our daughters. Saving this right now so I can refer back to it!
The time passes by so quickly! It’s so important to cherish every moment.
I have a daughter who is 2 but will definitely teach her when she’s grown-up.
beautiful post ?
Thanks, dear.
This post is so touching, I love it, my daughter is 7 years old and I just realised how fast she grows, I wanna enjoy every minute spent with her
7 is such a precious age. Enjoy the moments! ❤️
Such wonderful advice. I have 2 little girls and it makes my heart ache to think of them that grown up.
Thanks! Yes, they grow up in the blink of an eye.
This is so sweet!!!! My baby girl is only 22 months, but I know she’ll be 16 so soon!!!
Such a precious age!
This is really beautiful – I love that you’re so intentional and open about what young girls need to hear!
Thank you!
This is an amazing post – it really touched my heart. We could all benefit from the message of love, kindness, and gratitude. Wonderful words of wisdom for a daughter entering adulthood – well done!
Thanks so much. Glad you liked it!
So cool, I love it. All great stuff!
Thanks! Good to hear!
Such beautiful words! | enjoyed reading this. I can totally relate because I’ve done this twice with my 2 kids, 18 yr old daughter and 20 yr old son.
Both of you will cherish the memories and this post forever.
My daughter loved it! Thanks for the kind words.
This is a very important conversation every mother should have with her daughter.
Yes, the older our daughters get, the more we should teach them about living life and choosing themselves. Thanks for reading!
It’s so important to nurture and raise our daughters to be strong! This is a tough world we live in and it’s best to prepare our daughters for growing up and thriving in it.
Agreed!
Such a cute post, I wish I was told these things by my parents. #12 and #16 are great life advice for your daughter! Well done 🙂
Thanks for reading, Lisa!
You are truly a wonderful mom. I am really happy that I’ve come across your post. Thanks for sharing!
I appreciate the kind words. Thanks for reading!
You’re such a great mum!
My mum told me most of these things while growing up and that sure helped me get through a lot of things in life.
Your daughter is really lucky to have you as her mum.
Keep doing what you’re doing!
Thanks for reading and sharing your personal experience! No matter how old we get, we never forget our mother’s teachings!
This touched me..all of what I want to share with my daughter when she is older!
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is such a beautiful post. This letter will help more girls than you know
I sure hope it inspires many girls. Thanks for reading!
This post came across my screen at the right moment. My daughter suffers from self-esteem issues, and these were great reminders to help her feel a bit better about herself at this moment. I wish it would last for her, but I’ll always continue to try.
Thank you for sharing this!
Crystal, I know exactly what you mean. My daughter suffers from anxiety and self-esteem issues as well. It’s so important to instill in our girls confidence and self-love. And just like we as adults, they will forget and need reminders at times. But in the end, I think they’ll remember their worth and be OK. Thanks for reading!
Thank you for this. My girl is still young. I hope to instill confidence in her that no one else can break her with just words. After all, confidence is her best accessory. That and some killer red heels lol
It’s the red heels for me… Lol! Thanks for reading.
Great Post! I can’t believe my baby girl just got married last month. Happy and also sad.
Congrats to your daughter! Yes, seeing them grow up is bittersweet!
Love these! So important!
This is beautiful. Thank you for creating this.
My pleasure, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
I love it!!! And Even though I am a mother of boys, it is relatable for me. 💜
Glad you can relate, Ruth. I think we all have similar experiences in motherhood, whether boy-mom or girl-mom. Thanks for reading! ❤️
I love this! Thank you for sharing your heart. I pray all of that for my daughter. I want to empower her to step into herself fully and know that it is ok to make mistakes. That’s how we learn. And I pray boldly that she loves herself the way she deserves to be loved.
You are so right, Tandy! I tell my daughter all the time that it’s OK to make mistakes. They are learning opportunities. And I’m heavy on the “self-love.” ❤️
Such an amazing list of things to teach to your daughter! Loving herself first before anyone is pretty important and necessary in my opinion.
Thank you! And you’re absolutely right, teaching the importance of self-love is always necessary, no matter the age.
As a momma with 2 young daughters, this was very very much needed ❤️❤️
I’m glad you enjoyed this piece, Taylor. Cherish the time with your daughters, they grow up so fast!
This is such a meaningful post, I read it and wished I could print it out and give to my two girls they’re 17 and 20, and it’s all so true!
That means a lot! Printing it out as a gift for your daughters is a great idea. ❤️
As a mom of two daughters, I love this post. They grow up so fast, and all I keep thinking is am I doing enough!
Ikr! I keep wondering, where did the time go? And that feeling of “am I doing enough” never goes away. I can totally relate! ❤️
Good stuff! I have 3 daughters who are in their mid to late 20s. Even when they are older, you will keep teaching them. It will just be in a different way.
I can imagine that we never stop teaching our children, even as they get older. It’s always good to receive advice from more experienced parents. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Jim!
How sweet of a post! I love the idea of writing out things that you really wish to share with your daughter! It seems so special and there are so many great ones that I had written down to share for my daughter as well! What a great and inspiring read!
Thanks, Cassie!
This is a beautiful article, thanks for sharing. I don’t have a daughter yet but if I do, I’ll tell my daughter these things too. 😍
Very relatable. I have a 15 year old daughter 😊
I was already crying at #1…
I’m sure you’re a wonderful mom! 🙂
This is such a beautiful and loving post!
I don’t have any daughters, but most of these principles I can teach my son who’s actually celebrating his 17th birthday today!
OMG! Our kids are one day apart… How interesting! Tell your son happy birthday! 🎉
Parenting is not easy, we do our best to help our children thrive. This is a great article. ❤️
You’re right, Cynthia. Parenting isn’t easy AT ALL. But it’s a beautiful journey. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed this article. Thanks! ❤️
It is a very inspirational post! I wish my mom told me something like this when I graduated high school. My kids are 3 and 6, and I can’t imagine them 17.
As a girl mom of two aged 28 and 16, this is inspiring and validates my parental journey. Great article!
I love them all! As moms of daughters in this crazy world we live in, we need to make sure our girls feel loved, safe and empowered.
Such a lovely read!
This is wonderful. There are tips here I would like to impart to my daughters too. Thanks for the inspiration
Love this! Such great advice. Happy birthday to your daughter. I have a daughter myself and she is 5! Can’t imagine what life will be like when she’s 17. I am learning every day to slow down and enjoy the little things!
5 is such a precious age. Yes, definitely slow down and embrace these times. They go by fast!
This is a nice article!
I can tell you’re a great mom! I’ll be sharing this with my daughters for inspiration!
Love this! <3
It’s beautiful! Wish to have a daughter son some day!
I love this! So heartfelt and precious. I hope to have a daughter one day and look forward to passing down inspiring wisdom similar to this. Thank you for sharing 🫶🏽
This is such a beautiful post. I hope your daughter knows how lucky she is to have such a caring mother. I have a four year old and I’ll definitely be using some of this advice for her. Thanks for sharing!