To all my girlfriends raising daughters ~

People say she is an old soul. They comment about her using words like remarkable, amazing, and self-assured.

I’ve always said, “She just came to us like that.” As if, in some sweet offhanded way, we barely noticed her emotional maturity at the age of 10.

The truth is though, I’ve been whispering wisdom to her since before she could speak.

The truth is though, I’ve been showing her the true nature of people by allowing her to see the true nature of me.

The truth is though, I’ve been so afraid that I was doing it all wrong because I was raised so differently.

The truth is though, my mother was an abusive alcoholic who abandoned us and I could never shake the feeling of being alone.

The truth is though, I didn’t have a doting parent eager to help my younger self. And although I turned out just fine, I remember the feelings. The feelings of seeing other children who had that love at home.

And so, she gets that love at home.

She gets all that I did not have and more. The attention. The love. The intimate conversations with someone who truly wants to hear what she has to say.

The truth is though, no one person is perfect, but she is one perfect little girl.