I know, just know, that my child would rather I not reveal this but….I do not want her to be me.
I wish for Abby to be more than I could have dreamed. For her to continue to see the world in color and not in black & white.
I want her to maintain her self-confidence that she can do anything she wants. Not in spite of or because she is a woman, but because she is capable.
I wish for Abby to maintain the friendships that matter and not the ones that are cool. To continue to bounce back when the newest best friend turns out not to be what she thought.
I want her to keep her sense of self. To wear what makes her comfortable, not what makes her fashionable. That she continue to wear her leggings and t-shirts and not the high heels and skirts of her classmates. I do wish she would also brush her hair.
I wish for Abby to always see her sister and never see disability. I want her aware of people with disabilities, but I hope she sees the person first.
I want Abby to continue to be an advocate for those with special needs. To speak up for those who are different. To make room at the lunch table with a child who might need extra help. To slow down at recess for a friend to catch up and enjoy the game.
I wish for Abby to learn to accept compliments as easily as she gives them.
I want her to grow her ability to build up others and not take them down.
I wish for Abby to keep wearing her heart on her sleeve. To feel the way she does and not be ashamed of her feelings. To feel empathy of another’s plight and have the integrity to stand up for what is right.
I want her to be the warrior she is for others, but use that ideal as it relates to herself. I do not want Abby to be a follower, but a leader. One that shares and demonstrates with acts and words how one person can change the world.
I wish for Abby to continue to be kind.
I want her to be as kind to herself as she is to others.
I wish for Abby to continue her own path.
I want her to succeed at being the Abby I know and love.
While I know Abby would rather me no reveal this but I don’t want her to be me. I want her to have the self-confidence, the passion and power that I struggle with obtaining. She seems to have it organically and I do not want it to be stifled. I want it to grow to be more than can be imagined.
That is how I finished the sentence, My child would rather I not reveal this, but….brought to you by our hosts:
Kristi at Finding Ninee
Stephanie at Mommy, for Real
And today’s special co-host, Kelly McKenzie at Just Typikel
(Un)Diagnosed and still okay 
Aw this is just so amazing. The power of it struck me with your “I want her to have the self-confidence, the passion and power that I struggle with obtaining.” The fact that you undertstand that you struggle with these and that you don’t want your daughter to is huge. You remind me of a dear friend of mine who feels rather similar. I don’t see her as lacking confidence or having passion but she does. She worked extremely hard to ensure that her own daughter be confident and passionate and I think she raised an amazing girl as a result.
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I think I mask it well. It is more of an internal dialogue now as I realized Abby mimicking some of my comments a few years ago.
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Oh, Kerri, I love that. So beautiful, honest, and full of generous heartfelt wishes for your daughter. My oldest is a lot like me, and in many ways, it makes me worry a little. I want her to not be hung up on the same things in life that I have been. I guess time will tell. Thanks for this!
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It is funny. We want them to be like us, but just the good parts. Even though the not so nice parts are what make us who we are. I think I am struggling with that balance
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If she’s already got it, then I’m willing to bet she’ll always be that way. With us as adults it’s hard to change the way we’ve always been not hard really just a conscious effort.
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This gave me chills, and then I got to the end, and I was sad. I know we are only just getting to know each other Kerri, but I believe that you are all of those things. They shine through in your writing. Abby is very luck to have you in her corner!
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Thanks, Allie. I didn’t mean to make you sad. I just know that my challenge is self-confidence. Even in my 40’s which is just beyond ridiculous. I definitely do not want Abby having that battle.
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Beautiful, Kerri. I think that Abby will keep most of what makes her Abby. I also think that you have more power than you think that you do. Because you’re awesome. I am so confident that Abby will forever be an amazing advocate who sees the person before the the person’s challenge. I really really do…
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Hi Kerri: I think that your daughter will want to be exactly like you — or at least the way that she will see you: standing up for her children and her family, expressing herself clearly as a writer and an advocate, caring for what she perceives as important in life.
Abby has a great role model!
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Oh, Anna thank you! That means a lot to me.
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This is beautiful. I see my eldest daughter and I see that she’s going to be all that I want to be and I love it. She has the confidence and the self-assuredness that I don’t. It’s hard to parent her, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.
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True, April. Them having the confidence sometimes makes it a little more challenging to parent them. When they just know they are right and refuse to see any other way but their own. But I really believe, like you, that it will be worth it in the end.
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One day Abby is going to read this and love you even more than she does now. You want her to be the best of you, and better. You may struggle with the self-confidence, but you work on it, and she sees that. YOU are a big part of why she is so amazing. And why she will continue to be.
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Thanks, my friend. I think Abby is great (obviously). She is a cool kid, one I am just trying to guide.
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Such a beautiful post. Make sure she reads this. And then reads it again. And again with each year that she grows older. With you guiding her as her mother she is sure to grow into a strong, confident, beautiful inside and out, woman who is kind, caring, and thoughtful.
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