Wishes for my Daughter on her Birthday

I am constantly reminded about the fragility of life and that every day with my daughter is a gift (even the ones where she is telling me that I am turning our house into a hoarders den). 

How is it possible that my ginger is going to be 19 this month?!? My april baby, my eldest (aka my burned pancake ? )

 

DOES she KNOW that she is my heart ? walking outside my body?! And that I feel every one of her triumphs and every one of her setbacks right at the core of my heart? 

That her happiness, her dreams and her sorrows are all so intimately intermingled with my own and that I wish she saw herself through my eyes… 

I am also well- aware that the mother daughter relationship will likely be the most important and influential one of her life.

So I want to be her touchstone, that well of strength for her, her soft place to fall as she continues to experience the highs and lows that will inevitably befall her. But for now I'm content to get cuddle my newly minted 19 year-old and hold her as tight as possible.

And so here are my Wishes for my Daughter on her Birthday.

Wishes for my Daughter on her Birthday

#1 That you will Never lose your sparkle.

#2 That you will never  let anyone else's opinions dictate to you what you should be-or diminish your pride.

#3 That you will Always listen to your inner voice.

#4 That you will Take pride in your family history- and revere it's legacy.

#5 That you will always surround yourself with animals and that shih tzus will be a forever part of your life.

#6 That you will remember beauty comes from within and your physical body is just a shell.

#7 That you will always indulge in belly laughs and surround yourself with people who make you smile.

#8 That you never let anyone tell you to stop believing in your dreams and the possibility of a happily ever after.

#9 That you never let any relationship define you and know that whether you are with someone or not you are perfect and you are whole.

#10 That you remember your brother is and will always be your biggest ally.

#11 That you let yourself off the hook when things don't think work out and honey-things don't always work out.

#12 That you know that your mom and dad are always here for you, no matter what, no matter when, no matter where.

#13 That you soak in all the love that being 18 can afford you!

Happy Birthday baby girl and remember that perspective is everything!!