A LOVE LETTER TO MY DAUGHTER & A REFLECTION ON THE MOMENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT SHAPE US ALL
Feb 08, 2025
Becoming a mom for the first time is a moment that changes you forever. For me, that moment came eighteen years ago when my daughter Ava arrived in this world. Today, as she stands on the cusp of adulthood, I find myself reflecting on the journey we've shared and the lessons she has taught me along the way.
I want to share this love letter to Ava with you. Not only in celebration of her today, but as a reminder of how deeply we’re shaped by the relationships and experiences that matter most. Whether you're a parent, a mentor, or someone navigating your own seasons of growth, I hope you find yourself somewhere in these words.
Dear Ava,
Eighteen years ago today, you entered this world and forever changed mine. You were my first glimpse into the beauty, chaos, and profound love of motherhood. From the moment you arrived, you began teaching me lessons I didn’t even know I needed. Today is your 18th birthday and I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey it has been to be your mom. This is a love letter to you—a celebration of your courage, creativity, and the life lessons you've gifted me along the way.
Eighteen years ago today, you entered this world and forever changed mine. You were my first glimpse into the beauty, chaos, and profound love of motherhood. From the moment you arrived, you began teaching me lessons I didn’t even know I needed. Today is your 18th birthday and I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey it has been to be your mom. This is a love letter to you—a celebration of your courage, creativity, and the life lessons you've gifted me along the way.
It was you who first made me a mom.
You came into this world five days early. I’ll never forget the wild experience of you leaving my body (where you were safely connected to me) so you could learn to live and thrive in the outside world. The memory feels both forever ago and only yesterday at the same time.
Will you know the journey of being your mom has changed me the most?
It was you who taught me the truth about trusting the timing of things.
Right now, I want life with you in slow motion. I want more time.
Being your mom has shown me what’s possible within the messiness of life’s timing--how the magic of life is found in the sum of small, ordinary moments. How long days quickly turn into savored, short years. How a single moment can change everything. And how, eventually, everything falls into place just as it should--right on time.
Will you remember that hard seasons come to deepen our capacity for courage and compassion?
It was you who has and continues to do the deep, courageous work of healing yourself.
You’re the bravest person I know. While your journey to this moment hasn't been without challenges, you did it, you're turning 18! I'm so proud of you and in awe of your courage to trust yourself above all else. You've shown up for the work, day after day, even during the hardest times. I am deeply grateful for everything you've taught me about myself along the way.
Will you know just how grateful I am to have been inspired by you on my own journey to heal and nurture the younger, wounded parts of myself?
It was you who taught us to look for and see the best in people—not despite their uniqueness and differences, but because of them.
You’re an old soul and curiosity is your superpower. We knew this about you early on--the way you’d watch people and be deeply curious about them, and then follow-up with a million good (and hard) questions. The relationships you allow into your life matter. Let your desire to truly know and be known by others guide you.
Will you remember that your curiosity keeps your heart and mind open?
It was you who brilliantly expressed your world through poetry—three published books already!
For as long as I can remember you’ve had a relentless passion for using your hands and heart to turn anything into art. Protect and nurture your creative passions and process; make regular engagement with them a priority. Creativity serves as fuel for processing and making sense of the peaks and valleys of life.
Will you always remember that you were born to create beautiful things?
I've come to see a pattern in this parenting journey—a series of holding you close and letting you go. And here we are again. I'd like to believe I'd be more prepared for you turning 18, but I don't think I'll ever be fully ready. When I look at you, I still see our four-year-old with the sassy smile and red-headed bob haircut, Sugarpop.
As I write this, I realize how much of who I am today is because of you. Parenting you has been the deepest privilege of my life. As you step into this next chapter, remember that you carry the strength, curiosity, and creativity that have always set you apart. The world is a blank page waiting for you! No matter where life takes you, may you always trust in your own inner light and know how deeply you are loved.
xo,
Mom
As I share this letter, I’m reminded of how universal the themes of parenting, growth, and love truly are. Whether you're watching a loved one step into a new chapter or reflecting on your own, I hope this serves as a gentle reminder: the small, ordinary moments matter, and the love we give and receive changes us in profound ways.
Thank you for letting me share this piece of my heart with you. May it inspire you to celebrate the connections that have shaped your own journey. And as always, stay open, brave, and on-purpose.
