To my young teen daughter

To My Young Teen Daughter ...

Oh how I wish you could see yourself like I see you. I know this stage in life is hard, no matter what I do to try and help you. I know it's tough to like yourself or see any beauty behind all the changes you're undergoing. I know what it feels like to stand in the mirror and see a geeky teenage girl that doesn't know if she's a kid or an adult or how to act one day from the next. I know how badly you want to be older and be accepted as a mature, but how you still want to run and play like the little kid you were only a few short years ago.

I know what it feels like to not know who you are or who you should be, always comparing yourself to others and feeling inadequate. I know, Sweet Girl, I know. I just wish you could see yourself in the mirror that I see you. I wish your mirror reflected the beautiful and perfect young girl that God has so wonderfully made. I wish you could see the girl that just turned 14 years old as strong, confident and secure, accepting that each stage in life is just a fleeting chapter because before you know it, this chapter will end.

Please know that when you put yourself down or make jokes about your looks, I totally get it. Honestly, I do, but each time you voice your negative opinions about yourself, it breaks a little piece of my heart because I know that is your true feelings. I know you don't think you're pretty just as you are and I see how hard you work to cover up your inadequacies. I know I always tell you not to be so hard on yourself or not to worry about the pimples or the way your clothes fit or size of your legs, but I know you do and I know you struggle.

I just wish you didn't try so hard to be accepted or fit into what you think the mold is. You have always been a unique individual, a trendsetter and a leader not a follower. Please don't let that confidence in yourself weaken. Please don't let pressures of growing up and bumps in the road change who you are. The world has a way of making girls think they have to be this or that and it's not up to anyone but you, my wonderful daughter!

I know some day when you are older, you will look back at this young, awkward and confused girl that you are today, and shake your head at yourself. I just wish I could convince you before then. I wish I could say or do something to have you change who you see in that mirror every day. Your reflection to me is one I would never replace. My beautiful baby girl who is growing up into a young woman and who is perfectly imperfect! No one expects a 14 year old to look 18 or even act it, so I wish you would look beyond the flaws that make you human and see the young girl with so much talent, intelligence, beauty, wittiness and most of all kindness. And be who your soul tells you that you are, making your decisions based off that and letting go of the negativity that makes you feel ugly or unimportant.

I pray asking God to comfort you when you feel unworthy, and I ask him to whisper to you and remind you how special you are and how blessed your life is and to be happy and embrace it. I hope you hear Him. And I hope you can remember that He made you exactly how He wanted to, whether you like it or not. He and I love that He gave you light skin that won't tan, thick blond hair that takes you too long to curl and never looks good in a messy bun, skinny arms and legs, and braces on those teeth. You are an extraordinary character in His book and there is no other girl on the earth that is you. See yourself as beautiful and important as I see you!