Daughter

My daughter was born on a cold, stormy, winters day. I was in labor for twenty two and a half hours. Back then you didn’t know whether you was having a boy or a girl. It was a joyous surprise when she entered the world. How small, she had ten fingers and ten toes, the bluest eyes I had ever seen and was so beautiful, all eight pounds ten ounces of her. I named her Winter after the season and also because I loved the name and wanted some thing different. A name that would set her apart from all the other babies in the world.

She was and is my little girl ! The one I created, the one I had to love and teach what life was all about. I knew from her first breath that we were going to be great together, that we would always and forever be there for each other. I swore I would do everything in my power to raise her good and teach her all that I knew. My values would become her values.

There is nothing like the love of a daughter, she learns everything from her Mom. She begins to turn into a woman as soon as she can sit up. She begins when just a itty bitty girl, starting to walk and wanting to wash dishes, and wear your high heeled shoes. Playing dress up in all your clothes and wishing she was big enough to fill them out. The words that come from your mouth to her, now you hear her say to her brothers and friends in passing. The Eskimo kisses we shared together, the Mom daughter talks, and our shopping trips. You look at her and see yourself, not by looks but what she is becoming inside. What you are molding her into. Her long hair that I brushed for so many years. She loved her hair brushed. She used to crawl up on the couch and put her head in my lap and say Mom will you brush my hair. As I stroked her soft golden locks the love for her that flowed through me is unexplainable. One only a Mom would understand. All the cards she created for me, how important she would make me feel. She always thought about Mom. I was never left out of anything.

She grows and grows and soon she is a teenager, boys, dances, proms, and always she turns to you for your advise and wisdom. what shall I wear Mom? Does this color look good on me? Is it too short? What should I say? How should I act? Do you think he likes me? All of these questions you answer with love and tried your best to answer them truthfully. Her first kiss, her first heart break…Mom is there always to try to pick up the pieces and make her feel better.

School and events…children can be cruel and some families don’t have a lot of money, and mine was one of them. This is a memory that still is so vivid in my mind. Girls club, but you cant be in unless you have a jean skirt. She cried that night cause she so desperately wanted to be a part of that group of other little girls. She knew we didn’t have the money to buy her one. As she slept that night I got our an old pair of blue jeans and tore them apart. I sewed half the night by hand, I didnt have a sewing machine and when she awoke there on the back of the couch was her blue jean skirt. She wore it to school that day so proud, so happy that now she would be accepted and how wonderful I felt inside to be able to do this for her. She came home still in tears, they say I cant join cause this skirt is homemade not bought. I tried to explain to my tear filled daughter this is their loss not hers. That sometimes children can be cruel and say things they don’t really mean. Of course I was lying, they learned these actions from their rich parents! I promised myself that day that she would never ever make anyone feel that way.

I tried with all that I am to raise her not to judge anyone, to accept people for who they are not for what they have. I never wanted her to act the way those other little girls had, that had been so shallow and uncaring to her. I never wanted her to be cruel and hurt others. I taught her that the color of someones skin has nothing to do with who they are inside nor did how much money they have, or how many things they own, or who they have for friends, its the person inside that matters. Never to judge anyone always get to know them before any comments of crulity are made. Never make anyone feel sad or hurt from words you express.

She listened to her Mom and now is raising her own two daughters and one son the same way I did her, with compassion and respect for everyone. Caring and gentleness and willing to help out if asked. She does not judge anyone, she always gives the benefit of the doubt. She always thinks with love and compassion.

As I look at her now as an adult I feel more love with every passing day. I look at all she has accomplished in her 28 years and I say to myself I guess I didnt do a bad job raiseing her. She turned into an incredible young woman. She listened to me and found her way. She is my daughter and my best friend !