A letter to my young daughter for Mother's Day

A letter(ˈletər) to my young daughter for Mother’s Day

By Lindsay Gibson(ˈgibsən)

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self? This question posed on a talk radio(ˈrādēˌō) show got me thinking. I considered what I wish I had known earlier in my life and in my career(kəˈri(ə)r), but mostly I thought(THôt) about my young daughter and the responsibility I have to help her learn from me and the generations of amazing women who have preceded(priˈsēd) us. As I drove, I mentally(ˈment(ə)lē) drafted(draft) a letter to my child.

To my daughter, I would say: In my first parent-teacher interview when you were just four years old, your teacher described how you knew who you were and what you wanted to do. She predicted(priˈdikt) that you would one day run a major(ˈmājər) corporation(ˌkôrpəˈrāSHən). Even at that young age, your natural(ˈnaCHərəl) leadership qualities defined you. Now, at age 8, you are starting to discover them for yourself, and deciding who you are and who you want to become.

As your mom, I see all the wonderful things you have to offer the world. I am your biggest cheerleader(ˈCHi(ə)rˌlēdər). I feel your wins – and your bumps(bəmp) and bruises(bro͞oz), too – as much as you do. Sometimes I think I feel them even more than you do. As you go through life, I want you to remember who you are and what makes you amazing. While you may not always like my advice, there are words I hope you hear.

Throughout(THro͞oˈout) your life, your gifts – your voice and your ability to guide – may be misconstrued(ˌmiskənˈstro͞o) as being bossy(ˈbäs-,ˈbôsē). When your kindergarten(-ˌgärdn,ˈkindərˌgärtn) teacher predicted you’d be a leader, I beamed(bēm) with pride(prīd) and then wondered if she was telling me you were difficult or overbearing. On the contrary, you and others like you were born to clear a path. Don’t dial(ˈdī(ə)l) back or change who you are to please(plēz) others.

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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/first-person/article-a-letter-to-my-young-daughter-for-mothers-day/