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!
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