“Dear Baby Girl, I’ve got a few things I wish people had told me from a young age that I’m going to tell you. 1. Do not beg anyone. I mean absolutely anyone to stay. There is absolutely no reason for them to stay if you have to beg. They do not value or love you the way they say they do. Trust Momma on this, it’s not worth it. 2. Never allow anyone the opportunity to disrespect you twice. One time and cut all communication off. 3. Be the shoulder others need but have that one friend who can be yours when times are rough. 4. It’s okay to ask for help. Especially when life gets too hard, make sure to ask for help. Don’t try to fight alone. 5. Do not say yes, no matter what anyone says. Especially if you feel like you are pressured into it. I don’t care if it’s for sex, drugs, alcohol, anything, do not say yes unless you are absolutely ready for it. I promise you, it’ll save your life. 6. Make promises but realize some are okay to be broken. Some can’t be kept and that’s honestly okay. 7. Let yourself be loved baby girl. Don’t think you don’t deserve the whole nine-yards. You deserve as much love, if not more than you give. That being said, do not think the ordinary is love. Let them show you new ways of loving you. 8. Always know you can come to Momma for anything. I’d rather you say, “I need to call Mom,” rather than being afraid to do so. 9. Always help that stranger that needs it. Even if it’s just asking them how their day is. You may not realize how much it helps someone make it through the day. Compliment them as well. 10. It’s okay to stand out. It’s okay to be the quiet one. It’s okay to let yourself fade into the corner if that’s how you’re comfortable. 11. Try the sport. Whether you like it or not, at least try. See what happens because at the end of the day, whether you continue to play or not, you can say you at least tried. 12. All those pennies that you keep shoving to someone else because you don’t see the value in them, save them. Stick them in a piggy bank and let them add up. You’d be surprised what you could do with that one day. 13. Draw. No matter how it looks. Let that stick figure be the start. 14. Write. ABout your day, the feelings you have, or something that made you ask a question. Write and let it all out. 15. Don’t be afraid to come to talk to me. I may not always have the right answers but I promise you, I will always listen. 16. Be kind. Always. 17. Love yourself, baby girl. Look in that mirror and love what you see. No matter what anyone else says. Love the way your hips are, love the way your arms and legs look, just love you. Just please, if that’s all you can do in life, love yourself. Say one good thing every single morning and night about yourself in the mirror. 18. Read. No matter if it’s a book or an article. Let your mind expand to the vast worlds we have around us. Be the oddball who knows a lot about a certain topic because it peaks your interest. 19. Lastly, always say, “I love you” before you go to bed, leave the house, hang up the phone, and so on. Get that hug in as well. You never know when you’ll see them again or for the last time. I love you, baby girl. Love, Momma”
—

















