Letters To My Daughters | My Dearest Girls

I have been undertaking a very special personal project for about a year and a half now. Early last year when I was approached about taking on this unique and special endeavor with a circle of crazy talented and special women I couldn’t help myself. There are admittedly months where I just haven’t been able to keep up or life has gotten in the way but I have some very special keepsakes for my little ones and am so excited to continue on in this project. I in fact also write letters to my sons as well so essentially it is more of a letters to my children project.

Some of my past letters can be found here and here and even here. Of course there are many more scattered throughout the blog here.

And please follow the circle to my amazing friend Kirsty Larmour Photography. You can find her letter to her beautiful girls right HERE.

Dearest Lillian and Sophia,

A new season has crept up on us in more than one way for sure. Your littlest brother will be joining our family in mere weeks, and I know that things are slowly changing to accommodate his arrival. For you Lillian, that may mean taking on a very new role. You will be so much older and most likely someone that not only nurtures him, but an almost maternal figure to him. Sophia, you are used to be the baby in every sense. Soon you will have a new playmate. You still feel very much like the baby and I am a bit apprehensive at how not only you, but I will handle a slight shift in our roles around here, but more than anything I am just so over joyed and excited to watch the two of you with your new baby. Every morning, you make sure to hug my belly and greet your brother by name, and then tell him you love him. I was a bit apprehensive you might have a hard time having to share some of the attentions with yet another sibling, but you have matured so much into a little girl these past months that I know you will be more than okay. Lillian, I have you to thank especially because you have really set a shining example for what and how a big sister should be. We are all really growing around here aren’t we? I know it has been years since there has been a baby in this house, but I am more than ready to welcome this little boy into our home and our arms, but most importantly into our hearts. He is going to have two very special big sisters to watch over him.
I am so proud of the two of you.

Love you girls so incredibly much,

Mama

Letters to my Daughters | Dearest Lillian

Dearest Lillian,

I am noticing so many subtle changes in you. Turning eleven this year, I knew we were carefully treading in completely new and unfounded territory. When I was your age, I was a very tenderhearted child very much like you, and I remember the ups and downs well. I also remember promising myself not to forget, and the reason for that being I honestly just wanted to be able to more than sympathize when I had children of my own. I wanted to be full of compassion and empathy. As you can see, when you are a tenderhearted child you often grow to be a tenderhearted adult.

This summer we have had our own little mini adventures. Whether that happens to include just a day at the pool with good friends, or a five hour road trip to camp in a place we have never before explored, this year has been good to our family. I know we aren’t considered “normal” with daddy being a stay at home dad, and mama working from home. You see many of your friend’s parents bustling out to work, and living what probably seems a very foreign lifestyle to you, and I know sometimes you even wish a bit that we can be more like them. I grew up in that same exact kind of family and appreciate your Nunu for all her hard work and sacrifice. I also know that you probably wonder why you have to see mommy on the computer quite so much, though I am working just as hard as many with a less conventional career, but really you should know now that there is no such thing as “normal” anyway. Not really. I am also going to tell you something you most likely don’t realize at your very young sweet age. We are blessed. Because you have two parents at home, because after years of daddy missing out on your childhood because he had to work 12 hours a day, he can see you off to school and watch over you as you grow, and because we spend so much time together, you don’t realize now but we are creating a bond and memories that will be so special to you some day. Someday you will truly appreciate it as I do now. Daddy will not always be home. There may be a time he has to go back to work. We are leaning on God and counting our blessings.

Sometimes I know you expect me to have all the answers. I felt just the same when I was your age and looked up to my own Mom. Many times I always have to remind myself that my Mom is human, and doesn’t have all the answers. What I will always have is open arms. You are eleven and to you I am sure that is quite “big.” To me you are my baby. You will always be. I grasp that these years are fleeting, and if time is kind one day I will be kissing tears of joy on your wedding day and not tears of apprehension at embarking on some of the tough preteen exploits you are now facing. I realize I will be snuggling your own daughter or son as I snuggled you when you were just a babe. This letter is a friendly reminder though, that eleven is just one year, and one notch in the wall with many to come. I love you.

Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but you will never have to face the storm alone.

Mama

Now please head to my amazing friend in our special circle Jess Sandager of Olive Avenue Photography and read her beautiful letter HERE.