9 Things I want my 9 year old to know

Today is my daughters 9th birthday! She is the second mom around here and keeps her brother and me on our toes. Since it’s her birthday I thought I would write down 9 things I want my daughter to know

It’s okay to disagree with me

You have your own little mind now and that’s cool but what I say goes. You know the bullcrap of you live under my roof and you do as I say…yeah that. It still holds water but I will listen to your opinion and take it into consideration in everything that concerns you.

You are not me

You are you. You don’t have to be me at any point in your life. I want you to be who you want to be. I don’t dress up or wear makeup and I hate heels but you love all three and I love that you can be you. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. You don’t have to be me because a little piece of me already lives inside of you. Take that piece of whatever I bring and make it your own

I will always tell you the truth

I always tell my daughter the truth. She likes to play in lipstick from time to time and I allow it around the house but sometimes she puts on too much and I am quick to tell her that she looks like a clown. I also let her know that she doesn’t need makeup to be beautiful. My daughter also can’t sing. I am not one of those parents that boosts her little head up telling her things that aren’t true. If you can’t sing you can’t sing. You will not embarrass me!

Don’t be afraid of what you love

I know you love to craft. I hate your crafts but you love them. Don’t ever be afraid to showcase what you love to others. I know other kids may not like crafts or be on their electronics a lot but I want you to always have that craft bone in your body. Embrace what you love no matter what anyone else tells you

Don’t ever lose your caring spirit

You have won student of the month twice in 2 years because of your caring nature. I don’t know where you get that from but it’s not from me lol. Must be your dad in you. Never lose that caring nature. Never lose the ability to see people who are down and out and lend an ear or a hug.

Keep writing

I know you love to journal and you have about 5 of them. Never stop writing out what you feel. There is power in the pen and I want you to write down everything. Even when the going gets tough, write it out and put your feelings on paper. Sometimes it’s easy for us to write out our feelings than say what it is we are feeling and I will always respect that. Who knows one day your writings may become a book.

It is not your job to keep the people you love happy

Not me, not your brother, not your dad who is in heaven. You need to keep yourself happy. I know you do everything to make dad proud but make yourself proud first. Make you happy before you try to make others happy. You can’t pour from an empty cup

I am trying my best

I don’t think I am a perfect mother. I know you like to give me hugs but I am not fond of hugging because of how I was brought up. I know you like to spend more time with me but I am a single mother and I can’t give you all of my time. I want you to know though that I am trying my best. I make sure I give you a hug even when I am not feeling up to it (even if it’s a quick hug) I make sure I spend one on one time with you at least 30 mins a week if not more. I make sure I give you what I didn’t have as a child. I do raise my voice sometimes, I have told you that you get on my last nerve, and I don’t have a lot of patience with girly things that you love, but trust me when I say that I love you.

You are beautiful

I wasn’t told that I was beautiful until I was over 30 years old. So at 9 years old if you have never heard me say it before I am saying it now. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! It’s not just the outside but your insides are what makes you shine and make that beauty ever so present everywhere that you go. You don’t need makeup, you don’t need your hair to be a certain way, you don’t need anything that is not given to you by God. You are beautiful just the way you are.

Happy Birthday Zaza 9 years old looks good on you!