If I should have a daughter...

Someday in my future I may have children and I can’t help but look at this world and worry about what kind of parent I’ll be or how I won’t be able to save my child from the hurt and pain of being human. Even in all my worry, I know I don’t have to have a “perfect plan”, because life has its own way of working out in the end…but just in case…

If I should have a daughter,

 I’d want her to know that the world is imperfect.

I’ll want her to look up with those big blue eyes that she’ll get from me and pray she sees something else in the world.

I’ll teach her to carry rainboots, even on the driest days so that she never fears the rain.

 I wouldn’t let her try to be everyone else’s anchor or the captain of the ship.
Instead, I’ll show her how to be a shipmate,
helping others politely without ever being power hungry or sacrificing herself for the sake of the ship.
I’ll teach her to be her own ship.

I’ll show her that words can be a cage if guarded too much.

I’ll show her the beauty of a great speech and the freedom in expression.
I’ll teach her that the sidewalk isn’t always the safest place.

I won’t hide her from the pain or hurt in the world, rather I’ll show her everything in hopes she’ll want to find a way to change it.

I will love her fiercely and give her the fight of a warrior.
I’ll watch her try to save the very people who are standing on her cape.

I’ll teach her to be honest with herself and to find people who can stand beside her, allowing her to stuff her secrets in their pockets without every worrying what they’ll do with them.

I’ll teach her not to be afraid of the aching in her chest or the feelings that will rock her.
Instead, I’ll show her how much growth can come from even the worst moments.


I’ll show her that it’s not always about whether her glass is half empty or half full, rather it’s that her glass has something in it while others’ might be empty.

I’ll remind her that she needs friends more than relationships and show her what healthy connections look like.


I’ll prove to her that women are enough without makeup or beauty.
I’ll do what I can to protect her from the ugly standards of this world and let her wear whatever she likes.

I'll teach her that beauty and fat are not opposites.
I'll teach her to accept whatever form she comes in.

Because at the end of the day I don’t want to look in her eyes and see my insecurities.

I don’t want to look at her and wonder if she’s scared of love.
I don’t want to hear her harsh words about her own image as she stands in the mirror.
I don’t want to watch her crop herself out of pictures or cry when she’s on the bathroom scale.

I don’t ever want to hear her apologize to a guy for needing more attention.
I don’t want her to have to seek validation in any man or look for approval in people she dates.
I don’t want to take a picture of her when she’s refusing to smile for fear that someone might notice her teeth are crooked.
I don’t want to watch her put her body on display because she feels that’s the only way to get a date.

I don’t want to watch her fall silent in fear of having a differing opinion.
I don’t want her to worry about being alone.
I don’t want her to question whether her family really loves her.
I don’t want her to care about how much money she has.
I don’t want her to live quietly in a world that is so loud.


If I should have a daughter,

I’ll love her…no matter what.