DO YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER?

Attention mothers and fathers, mommies and daddies, moms and pops and other permutations.  Your little girl wants to tell you something.

You have a daughter. She is beautiful. Yes she is, even if her teeth stick out like a walrus and her skin has spots like a leopard or if she is flawed physically or mentally.

Do not tell her she is insignificant or objectionable or use any other words that take away from her beauty.  Her own mirror will tell her that even if it lies.  She needs your mirror to see the real her, the part that soars above the clouds making rainbows. She needs you to see how fragile she is and how strong she can be. She needs you to let go of your imaginary daughter and see her.  Tell her she is beautiful.  Her whole life will be different if you do.

You have a daughter. Tell her she is smart.  Tell her early, when she smiles for the first time or when she rolls over.  When she wiggles all over like a puppy and tries to blow bubbles.  Tell her she is smart when she turns the page of the book you are reading, even if it tears.  Tell her she is smart at every little accomplishment; clap your hands, and celebrate her.  Tell her when she makes an A' and when she makes an 'F'.  Especially when she makes an 'F'.  Tell her when she learns to read or cartwheel or cook or drive.  Tell her she can learn almost anything if she works hard and has a certain talent, but that she may not find everything worth learning and that's ok. Help her find the resources she needs to learn and to excel and even to learn and not excel.