Things I’d Like to Tell My Daughter
I am young. Who knows if I will have any kids. One day, yes, I hope so — but nothing is set in stone. Who knows how many I’ll have. But If I have a daughter there are a few things I’d like to her learn and know.
Dear possible future daughter,
Pink doesn’t have to be your color. You don’t even have to have a color. Wear what you feel comfortable in. If that is a pair of tweety bird overalls for a week, well more power to you. Play with toys because they are awesome, not because they are girly. If you want some legos and hot wheels, the red and blue ones, then let’s get em’! If you also want a monster truck, but for your princess doll to ride it in on the way to the palace, I’m down with that too.
I hope you love a sport. Admittedly, I’ll encourage you to love a sport because I do. But also because you’ll always need teamwork in life. You’ll undoubtedly get pushed down, you’ll be elbowed in the face by circumstances, you’ll dive for the goal or for that ball and end up with burns on your knees, and life will knock the wind out of you on more than one occasion. Get up. Get up because the game isn’t over, it never is. Sports develop leaders and hard workers, which I insist you will be — but if you hate them, I will teach you these things in other capacities.
Love people for how they act and make you feel. Just love people in general. Bitterness is overrated, and happiness should never be fleeting. Don’t walk around waiting or expecting to be burned by those around you. Love them. Love them with all your heart for their seemingly insignificant actions like opening the door for you or bringing you coffee in the morning. Love them not because you’re supposed to, but because you want to. You are going to be a woman full of love and life.
Your body is incredible. It will do some remarkable things in your lifetime. It will transform into a fine-tuned, sometimes painful, machine. You will sprout curves and breasts — or maybe not if you’re like me. Don’t judge it. Either way it is beautiful. Your body is working hard because you are working hard. Comfort it when it begs to be comforted, protect it when it needs safe-keeping, and keep it healthy so you can live a long life.
Be silly. I will teach you to laugh every chance you get. My parents did a great job on this one. Heaven knows I was a strange little girl at times, but my creativity bloomed because they just let me be me and played along. They laughed with me (sometimes probably at me) — but never put me in a box. Sure I was required to behave when the occasion rose, but I was never told “Stop laughing, stop being so silly or weird or goofy.” I will never tell you those things.
And finally, ask questions. I hope you never stop learning, even when you’re not in school. Ask your grandpa or cousins how to change a tire and grill a steak. Ask me about literature and clothes. Ask your grandma about makeup because I still haven’t figured that one out yet. Ask your uncles about soccer. I hope I can teach you that you’re never done discovering and that it’s okay to challenge people you disagree with. I’ll teach you to lead in whatever capacity you feel comfortable in — you don’t have to be loud like me. And I will teach you to be curious and to stand with a fortitude I want my daughter to know.
Love, Your possible future mother.
This post was originally published on Honesty For Breakfast: http://www.honestyforbreakfast.com/things-id-like-to-tell-teach-my-daughter
