10 Things I Want My 10 Year Old Daughter To Know (A Birthday Letter)

August 15, 2012

My precious not-so-baby girl,

How time flies... I have been keeping this to myself but I dread the days that you keep adding years to your very young life. Daddy loves to tease you, "where's my baby girlie?" and pretend to look for his teeny tiny baby girl. The last time he did you blurted out; "I am here, daddy! Your baby girlie have grown. Babies need to grow, you know?!" much to mommy's amusement and err... disappointment. Why do babies need to grow? I want to freeze the time, particularly this year (2012) so that you stop growing at 10 years old and your baby brother remains 1 year old forever . But since I can't stop the hands of biological clock from ticking, these are the things I want you to know amidst your fading childhood and ominous adolescence:

•  You are God's beloved child. He loves you no matter what. Trust in Him and embrace His unconditional love. Put God first in everything you do and you will never go astray. 

•  You will always be mommy's baby girl even if you are not-so-baby anymore. I still vividly remember that one stormy afternoon you were born. You are undoubtedly an angel who came down from heaven.

•  Be yourself. Stay as bubbly and sweet as you are. You bring profound love and joy to our family. Life will never be the same without a loving and caring daughter and a big sister like you. 

•  Never let go of the child in you. Never lost the joy in jumping and bouncing when you get really happy and excited even if one day you discover you are already a grown up. Anyone is never too old to be child-like.

•  Admit when you are wrong. It is alright to make mistakes. Apologize for it, learn from it, forgive yourself and do your best not to repeat the same mistake twice.

• Superficial beauty fades away. Strive to be beautiful inside. Be compassionate and respectful to other people and be an obedient child of God.

• Daddy and mommy are striving to be a better parent to you and your baby brother. We raise our voice when we get impatient and we are sorry for that. Please know that we love you and baby Gian to bits more than anyone else in the entire universe. 

• We don't always love your behavior BUT we love you ALL the time. There is no day we ever love you less because we can only love you more and more and more that we can't ever, ever measure how much we love you and cherish you in our hearts.

• Continue your great love affair with books. We are very proud to have a reading machine like you. Read, read and read some more... You have my permission to get lost in a book full of words but remember to love numbers too.

• You are a very fortunate child of God. Not all children have parents to care for them, roof under their heads, proper meal three times a day, and clothes to keep them warm. Be grateful. 

There are so much more I want to tell you my dearest child. On your 10th birthday, remember that the best things in life are free and life is too short to dwell on the temporary joy that material things bring. Treasure your family. Never be blinded by the sparkle of diamonds and flicker of gold. Instead, have a soul of diamonds and a heart of gold.  

May God grant all the desires of your heart and may all your dreams come true. Have a happy and magical 10th birthday! Daddy, mommy and baby Gian love you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!

With all the love I couldn't contain,

Mommy