Dear teenage girl,
Come sit with me.
Perch here on the bed.
Come tell me why your eyes look down
and won’t meet mine, instead.
I see you grinning beautifully, in your selfie pose,
But you forget I know more of you than most anyone else knows.
You are the babe I prayed for.
I cried so many tears
kneeling by my bedside
as the months turned to years.
You are the precious child I used to buckle into the car.
I brushed the sand, and gave a drink.
“Stay awake. We don’t have too far;
But then in my rear-view mirror, I’d watch your head start to nod.
I’d carry your sleep-weighted body in,
and lay you down,
smiling, and thanking God.
I hope one day you know that He gave me my greatest wish
in everything you are.
Dear Teenage Girl,
I hear you in the things that you don’t say.
It’s scary and uncertain to watch the “little” go away.
When figurines and Barbie dolls have all been boxed, when you trade them for older things,
and you’ve cleared your surfaces off.
I know there’s still a part of you that likes stuffed animals, and cuddly things.
I know that sometimes you secretly miss when your world was pink and soft.
Brush off all the cruel words,
Remember to whom you belong.
You do not need to strive hard to be
what you’ve been all along,
so come let me tell you about all that I see in you.
Talented, smart, and capable.
I hope one day you will see it, too.
Let me tell you that in all your years my heart never stood from kneeling pose;
That every time you walk through a new door I pray others see the same girl that I know.
I pray that you will be shown kindness,
and that you will give it, too.
I pray that you will be given a chance to do all that you were meant to do.
I pray you know that nothing you do or say could ever make me love you less.
Not grades, or dented bumpers.
Not any way you choose to dress.
I pray you know you’re worthy of love without doing a thing.
I pray one day your own daughter will know what all these same words mean.
For you are not your anxiety.
You are not just being thin.
You are so much more than your bad days
and what outfit you’re in.
I hope you know that I remember feeling all the things you feel,
and I’m watching for the thief that comes along threatening to steal
all your light and beauty
and whisper lies to you
that you are less than everything.
Hold onto what is true.
“I see you” and
“I hear you” and
“You are so valuable”
“I’ve known from when they placed you fresh and warm on me you would be special.”
“You have something in you that no other person does”
“Wanted” “Treasured” “For a purpose”
I label you with love.
Dear Teenage Girl,
Please put down the smudged mirror that you’ve held.
Here is one that I’ve cleaned and polished.
I’d like you to meet yourself,
For you are fire and flower petals.
You are rain and light.
You are warmth from golden rays,
and the coolness of the night.
You are the smell of fresh baked cookies,
A perfect smile and twirl.
You are absolutely everything,
My Dear Teenage Girl.
Dedicated to Chloe and Tessa –
Two of my four greatest gifts.
This article was written by a guest blogger. The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions of Bob Lacey, Sheri Lynch or the Bob & Sheri show.
Mom Outnumbered
Hi! My name is Kerri Green; Wife to Justin, and mother to four highly entertaining daughters -Alena, Chloe, Tessa, and Paige. I am an artist, a writer, a daycare provider, a lover of people, a believer that there is humor and beauty in all things, and the author of Mom Outnumbered; a blog about real family life, and my observations of it. My goal is to make people laugh, to be there for them when they cry, and most importantly, to let them know that they are not at all alone in this up and down world. I live with my family in Sebastopol California, and I am opening the window into our life. So welcome! Come in. Sit down. Just please don’t mind the mysterious wet spots.
