I Wasn't Sure How To Love a Daughter

A Gift for Mom! 🤍

Sweet girl,

When I found out I was pregnant, I knew you were a girl. I could feel it in my bones. Mother’s intuition starts at conception, I guess. But, there was the back and forth dance of what if you’re a boy. What if I wanted you to be a boy? What if I needed it?

When the ultrasound confirmed what I felt in my gut, my heart sank. It had nothing to do with you, nothing whatsoever. It had everything to do with me.

RELATED: My Relationship With My Mother Left Me Scared of Having a Daughter

I didn’t grow up with the best mother-daughter relationship. Getting the confirmation that you were going to enter my life making me the mother of a daughter scared me to death. It still does sometimes.

I don’t exactly have a clear path as to how to navigate the winding road of a lifelong, female, family tie.

I see all the ways I don’t want to be a mom. I see all the things I want to do differently, better, and maybe worse, too. I have learned enough over the years to understand this bond can be broken easily, and that’s not something I ever want to do to you.

I know I want to build you up and never tear you down. I know I want you to be able to confide in me and not live in fear of me. I want to be able to be a mentor and friend to you. I want to be the person you call when things go wrong. I want to lend a listening ear and not spew a mouthful of spite in your direction.

RELATED: Pregnancy Reopened the Wound My Mother Left Behind

As you grow, I am learning. I am watching. I am finding within myself a bravery I didn’t know was there.

I want to be better for you. I want to be better because of you.

I knew you were my daughter before I ever held you in my arms. I’m sorry I ever questioned that. You deserved more certainty.

Daughter, I promise to be the mom you deserve, even though I didn’t have the best example to learn from.

Maybe that’s how the world changes? You live and you learn. You grow when you have to.

You helped heal me. Now I feel like I’ve come full circle.

If you have a daughter one day, I pray you find peace in our mother-daughter relationship. I hope you can look to it and build upon it instead of wanting to tear it down and start over.

RELATED: She Will Always Be My Mother But She Will Never Be My Friend

Holding you now, I know you will be even better than me someday. I hope you know I want that for you. I’ll always be cheering you on.

Love,

Mom

So God Made a Grandmother book by Leslie Means

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I Wasn’t Sure How To Love a Daughter

RELATED: My Relationship With My Mother Left Me Scared of Having a Daughter

I don’t exactly have a clear path as to how to navigate the winding road of a lifelong, female, family tie.

RELATED: Pregnancy Reopened the Wound My Mother Left Behind

I want to be better for you. I want to be better because of you.

You helped heal me. Now I feel like I’ve come full circle.

RELATED: She Will Always Be My Mother But She Will Never Be My Friend

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

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Get It Now

So God Made a Mother

I Wasn’t Sure How To Love a Daughter

I don’t exactly have a clear path as to how to navigate the winding road of a lifelong, female, family tie.

I want to be better for you. I want to be better because of you.

You helped heal me. Now I feel like I’ve come full circle.

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A GRANDMA

As a Medical Mom, I Measure Growth Differently

Hannah Harper Is Every Mom with Babies in Her Arms and a Dream In Her Heart

Watching Your Children Build the Life You Prayed For Is Beautiful

I Lost My Daughter on Mother’s Day: 3 Truths I’m Believing Today

If You Give a Mom a Bouquet…

Here In the Liminal Space of Parenting

Mothers Are the Givers

Hyperemesis Gravidarum Means I Survived Something No One Could See

I’m Learning To Feel Like I Belong In a Room Because I Want Her To Know She Always Does

Soon There Will Be No More Breakfasts To Make

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