Dearest Daughter,
Before I had you, when you were merely a hope and a dream, I thought “I want to be the perfect role model.” I wanted to show you strength, compassion, perseverance, self-confidence. I wanted you to see that pretty is more than surface and that woman is more than body. I wanted you to see that dreams are for the taking and your heart AND your brain will take you there. I wanted you to know deep connection. I wanted you to know passion for life. I wanted you to know love, trust and home.
And now that I have you in my life, I still want these things for you. Truely.
But, sweet girl, I also want for you to eat your lunch at school and not have a meltdown at 5:00 because you have nothing in your stomach. And I wish for you to make a choice – any choice – yogurt or fruit or both, dress or pants, outside or inside play - just make a choice. And I want for you to see that my telling you to sit up in your booster seat is about safety and not because I am “mean” or “unfair”. I think I would just like to eliminate “not fair” for the next little while. And I want you to wash your hands before touching every. single. surface. And I want you to put your pyjamas on a hook. You don’t even have to turn them right side out. Just don’t shove them in some corner of your room where we can’t find them the next night. And I want you to learn that “Stop” means to ”Stop” and not keep going until your parents lose it.
And I want you to know that being 5 is hard. You are being told to be a big girl but you are given restrictions and rules and that can be confusing.
And I want you to know that we have so many struggles ahead of us. But struggle or not my love never falters. Not ever. Even when your mom loses it.
———–
Sarah Kay on Ted Talks with If I Should Have a Daughter http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html
i love ted talks.
seems like having a son has the same battles.