Daughters
“You spend all year remembering twenty-five birthdays that are not yours. Today the cupcakes, the song and the fuss are all for you.”
“I know how many early mornings and late nights went into this diploma. It is not just a piece of paper. It is proof of who you are.”
“Out there, you are allowed to make mistakes and change your mind. Every wrong turn teaches you something, and I will be proud of you regardless.”
“Your new place is yours to fill with whatever makes you happy. Just remember there is always a seat for you at my table, any night of the week.”
“On this special day, as you become a wife, remember that you'll forever be my little girl. I'm so proud of all that you are, all that you've been, and all that you're yet to be. May your marriage be blessed with joy and endless love.”
“There are not enough words to describe how important you are in my life. I'm forever grateful for you and the joy you bring to my life.”
“The day you arrived, I held you and promised I would always be in your corner. You have grown into someone I admire, and I have kept that promise every day.”
“I hope the first dinner you cook in your new kitchen turns out great. And if it does not, there is always pizza, and there is always me.”
“I bet you get another teacher mug this Christmas, and that is fine. Every one of them means a kid who wanted to say thank you.”
“Another year of watching you grow into someone I admire more every day. You have a good heart, a quick mind and a laugh that fills a room.”
“You can go in any direction you choose from here, and that is a good feeling. Take your time, trust yourself, and do not forget to enjoy the road.”
“I have been at the back of every room you have stood up in since you were small. You stopped looking for me out there years ago, which is exactly as it should be.”
“You are a grown woman now, and you can handle just about anything. But if you ever need backup, your old dad will be there before you finish asking.”
“You were grown and something had broken that I could not put right. I sat in the kitchen with you and said almost nothing at all.”
“If fate whispers to you 'you can't withstand the storm,' whisper back 'I am the storm.' You will always be my baby girl. You are stronger than any challenge that comes your way.”
“You call me about leaks and forms and which car to buy, and nothing else. I know you could look every one of them up in about ninety seconds.”
“Wherever you are and whatever time it is, you can always call me. It does not matter if it is big news, bad news or no news at all.”
“You used to shake every present under the tree and guess what was inside. You were right almost every time, which is why I started using bigger boxes.”
“The first bill with your name on it is a strange kind of milestone. It means you are out there building a life of your own, and I could not be prouder.”
“You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Wherever your path may lead, always remember whose daughter you are. When you're too afraid to look ahead, I'll be right beside you. Never stop chasing your dreams.”
“Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain. Every day may not be good, but find something good in every day. Believe in yourself and remember to be awesome. I believe in you.”
“It takes real courage to ask for help, and I hope you always will. Needing people is not a weakness. It is how love gets in.”
“You are loved more than you'll ever know. Believe deep in your heart that you are capable of achieving anything you put your mind to. I hope you believe in yourself as much as I believe in you.”
“It takes courage to pack up your life and start somewhere new. You have always been braver than you give yourself credit for.”