A Message to My Daughters

daughters
Photos courtesy of Kelsey Correa Photography.

Kids are the greatest blessings, and I am fortunate enough to have two daughters of my own. As someone who also has a sister and cherishes our relationship with one another and what we have with our mom, I’d secretly always hoped to have the same dynamic with my own family. Yes, the “ideal” family of a boy and a girl would have been wonderful (and of course I’d be so thankful for any child I could have!), but deep down, I’d always hoped to be able to have two little girls, hopefully just a few years apart, just the way I grew up. To be able to dress them alike, to cheer them on at dance recitals and school shows, to pass along advice when needed, to listen to them when they needed a loving ear, and to cry on when they needed a shoulder. And to be best friends as they get older, having a special relationship no one could ever replace. Mine are five years apart which is a few more years than my sister and I, but they have so much fun together. I love watching them interact, and I truly couldn’t be more blessed.

READ: Daughters, Please Know This…

Every day, I appreciate and celebrate them, but today, I wanted to share a little message with them. So, for my daughters and all the daughters out there, no matter how old you are, this is for you. From someone who is also a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a friend, and has been through a lot as all those things.

Hey girls,

You, my mini-mes. The one who made me a mom and the one who followed a few years later. The ones who rule my life (in the most stressful but also most rewarding ways possible). The ones who need to be held when you fall and hurt your elbow, and who think kisses and “bambaids” cure all. The ones who tell me I’m “the meanest mom ever” and then “the world’s greatest mom” 20 minutes later. The ones who hold my hand when we cross the street, and the ones who are so independent and strong-willed that you think you can do it all on your own. The ones who make me a better person every day.

You are loved. You are adored. You are special. You are one-of-a-kind. I am here for you — today, tomorrow, forever — through anything and everything. Please know you can always count on me, you can come to me with anything, you can talk to me about all the things, and you can trust me. I am and will always be in your corner.

If I ever seem angry or stressed, just know it’s likely not toward you. It’s tough being an adult, especially a mom, especially in today’s world. Life can be overwhelming and exhausting, and it never really turns off for us moms. Sometimes we reach a boiling point and boil over; we can only hold things in for so long. But it’s not you. You are wonderful. Even if you do something wrong or we get upset with you, our love and adoration for you always wins. Please know that.

You’re going to make many friends: best friends, friends you think are best friends, friends who will lift you up and support you, friends who won’t be what you need them to be, friends who lie to you or sneak around behind your back, friends who are surface-level friends, and friends who you’ll be able to talk to anything and everything. Some will last, and some will fade. It’s okay. You will look back and be thankful for each of them for something one day.

Speaking of friends, you and your sister are going to be best friends forever and ever. You will fight, and you may even think you hate one another at times, but as you get older, the love you have for one another will continue to grow, and it creates a bond you just can’t create with anyone else. Always stay close and lean on one another.

daughters
daughters
daughters
daughters

Please know that while I love being your bestie, I can’t always be your best friend. I am your mother and that will always come first. You may not always like my rules, decisions, and advice, but know that I always have your best interest at heart and it’s all to keep you safe and loved. You’ll thank me for it one day. (I know, I know, but trust me. You will. I thank my mom almost weekly now that I’m an adult and have kids of my own.)

Stay wild. Stay free. Don’t waste your time worrying about what other people think of you. Do what makes you happy. Have fun. Laugh a lot. Don’t let adults dull your sparkle because they forget what it’s like to be a kid. Ask questions and learn as much as you can. Travel. Make new friends. Believe in magic. Believe in yourself. Don’t be afraid to fail. Love with everything you have and all that you are, but never let that love make you feel pressured or less than. Sing loud and off-key. Make silly jokes. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Know that times can feel hard, but they won’t last and you will make it through. Know that you’re never alone and that you always have me. Always.

You’re amazing. You’ve got this.

Love,
Your mom who’s loved you since before you were even born.

Blakeley Vinicky
Born and raised in Savannah, GA, Blakeley has been a Jacksonville resident for more than 14 years. She moved to Jax temporarily for an internship at The Jacksonville Landing (RIP), fell in love with the city and a boy (her now husband), and ended up sticking around. She is married to loud and crazy Chicago-native Jimmy Vinicky of nearly 10 years, and has two daughters, Daisy and Poppy. In addition to writing for Jacksonville Mom, she works full time in Public Relations, runs her own lifestyle blog This Blonde Life, and is a freelance makeup artist. She loves adventuring with her family, and you’ll rarely catch her sitting around home doing nothing. Her favorite local spots include Sipper’s and Breezy coffee houses, Wicked Barley Brewing, Cap’s on the Water, Ink Factory, happy hour at One Ocean’s Azurea, and soaking up rays at the beach.

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