Dear Daddy,
I know I’ve been a difficult little girl. My teething and crying have been unbearable.
I know what’s most frustrating for you is that whenever you go to grab me, I cry more.
And then, whenever Mommy comes to take me out of your arms . . . I stop crying right away.
Please know this does not mean I don’t love you. I just spend every day with Mommy.
She changes my diapers, feeds me, and plays with me all day long. I’m just used to her comforting me throughout the day, and when I’m in pain at night, I know she’ll comfort me.
So right now I want Mommy but what you need to know is this: I need my Daddy too.
I need you to teach me how to play rough so I can keep up with my big brother and play with all the boy cousins. But I need you to protect me and look after me when those boys get too rough and hurt your little girl.
I need you to play princess with me and pretend to be the Prince Charming who will make all my dreams come true.
I need you to teach me how to play sports and fish and do things that Mommy doesn’t understand.
I need you to teach me how to dance so I’ll be prepared for my first prom. I need you to teach me how to drive a car (because we know how bad a driver Mommy is).
But most importantly, I need you to teach me how a man should treat and love a woman.
Show me by the way you love Mommy and take care of her every day. Show me what I deserve so that when I start dating, no boy will ever be able to live up to the expectation.
And then one day, I’ll bring a boy home.
I’m going to need you to size him up for me and tell me if I’m making a mistake and to choose better. (Although I may not listen to you at the time, someday I may appreciate what you said because I’ll learn that it was out of a place of love.)
Someday, I’m going to need you to walk me down the aisle and give me away to that boy (or maybe a different boy). I know that day will be hard for you and Mommy but I’ll need you to let your little girl go.
So right now, yes, Mommy is needed.
But you’ve got a very important job to do as well. A job that only daddies can fill, and I know you’ll do a great job.
I know because I learned very quickly, in my little life, that I got lucky.
I got an amazing daddy.
Love,
Your baby girl