An open letter to my teenage daughter
My beautiful Paige,
I was once 14, and I do remember what it was like. Here are a few things that I wish I would have known/believed then...
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
I don't care what some angst ridden, spitefull, spoiled rotten brat thinks. So what if someone is taller, thinner, has blonder hair, or darker hair, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. You have a beauty that far outreaches any super model, you have a beautiful heart. You are an amazing child of God and your beauty shines regardless of the brand of jeans you wear.
DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WORRYING ABOUT NOW
Believe it or not, the things that feel like they are the end of the world right now won't even matter in 10 years, hell they won't matter in 10 weeks! It's hard to see past that right now, but know that a whole lot of amazing awaits you in life, and these teen years will be just one drop of water in the giant ocean that is your life.
BOYS ARE DUMB!
Period. End of sentence. You're young, don't look too hard for "the one" just yet. He's out there, and he will find you when the time is right. (many many years from now) Don't settle for the cute one, wait for the right one, who's kindness and goodness match your own, because you are worth it.
MIDDLE SCHOOL POPULARITY IS ABOUT AS IMPORTANT AS A TICK ON A DOG'S BUTT
Don't define yourself by where you think you are in the middle school pecking order. The kids who you perceive as the "popular" people, are every bit as unsure, insecure, and fragile as you are. Sometime in the not so distance future everyone's hormones will settle into place, and a lot of the nastiness disappears when everyone realizes that you all really are in the same boat.
DON'T BE A DOORMAT
It's okay to be a people pleaser, it really is. Just don't let people take advantage of your good nature, sometimes you have to be your own champion. Today it may be having the courage to tell your teacher that you don't want to be partnered with the kid who doesn't do any work, later it may be a co-worker, a boss, a friend, a family member. You can be nice and be helpful without being walked on.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
Don't try too hard to impress everyone else." To thine own heart be true " Don't worry about what others think. Be happy with YOU. Love YOU. Because YOU are amazing. So dye your hair blue, wear a purple tutu and one lace glove if you want, be unique, be yourself, and love who you are.
NEVER BE AFRAID TO TRY
Sometimes you will succeed and sometimes you will fail, but ALWAYS try. Don't live with regret or the thoughts of "if only I would have...." Give it a try! Take the hard math class, try out for the team, learn the banjo, whatever it is.. don't be afraid to give it a try. You may love it, you may hate it, but at least you can say you gave it your all and you tried something new.
I LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT
When you succeed, when you fail.. I will be here. Through your disappointments, and your triumphs.. I will be here. When you laugh, cry, learn, love, try, win, lose... I will be here.. and even when I am the last person in the world that you want to talk to... I will be here.
I was once 14, and I do remember what it was like. Here are a few things that I wish I would have known/believed then...
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL
I don't care what some angst ridden, spitefull, spoiled rotten brat thinks. So what if someone is taller, thinner, has blonder hair, or darker hair, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. You have a beauty that far outreaches any super model, you have a beautiful heart. You are an amazing child of God and your beauty shines regardless of the brand of jeans you wear.
DON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WORRYING ABOUT NOW
Believe it or not, the things that feel like they are the end of the world right now won't even matter in 10 years, hell they won't matter in 10 weeks! It's hard to see past that right now, but know that a whole lot of amazing awaits you in life, and these teen years will be just one drop of water in the giant ocean that is your life.
BOYS ARE DUMB!
Period. End of sentence. You're young, don't look too hard for "the one" just yet. He's out there, and he will find you when the time is right. (many many years from now) Don't settle for the cute one, wait for the right one, who's kindness and goodness match your own, because you are worth it.
MIDDLE SCHOOL POPULARITY IS ABOUT AS IMPORTANT AS A TICK ON A DOG'S BUTT
Don't define yourself by where you think you are in the middle school pecking order. The kids who you perceive as the "popular" people, are every bit as unsure, insecure, and fragile as you are. Sometime in the not so distance future everyone's hormones will settle into place, and a lot of the nastiness disappears when everyone realizes that you all really are in the same boat.
DON'T BE A DOORMAT
It's okay to be a people pleaser, it really is. Just don't let people take advantage of your good nature, sometimes you have to be your own champion. Today it may be having the courage to tell your teacher that you don't want to be partnered with the kid who doesn't do any work, later it may be a co-worker, a boss, a friend, a family member. You can be nice and be helpful without being walked on.
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF
Don't try too hard to impress everyone else." To thine own heart be true " Don't worry about what others think. Be happy with YOU. Love YOU. Because YOU are amazing. So dye your hair blue, wear a purple tutu and one lace glove if you want, be unique, be yourself, and love who you are.
NEVER BE AFRAID TO TRY
Sometimes you will succeed and sometimes you will fail, but ALWAYS try. Don't live with regret or the thoughts of "if only I would have...." Give it a try! Take the hard math class, try out for the team, learn the banjo, whatever it is.. don't be afraid to give it a try. You may love it, you may hate it, but at least you can say you gave it your all and you tried something new.
I LOVE YOU NO MATTER WHAT
When you succeed, when you fail.. I will be here. Through your disappointments, and your triumphs.. I will be here. When you laugh, cry, learn, love, try, win, lose... I will be here.. and even when I am the last person in the world that you want to talk to... I will be here.
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