A letter to Madison

via A letter to Madison

Dear Maddie

You have grown right into a most beautiful young lady, soon to be 15. Full of sparkling energy and the air of someone wiser than her years, you are also loaded with just a pinch too much sass. I envy you for that, actually. Even with my years, I still have a shadow of shy reservation following me, snubbing out my own twinkle more often than not. It’s a wonderful combination that will do great things for you if you continue to use those almighty, powerful brains of yours. If you do, you’ll have a competitive edge in the game of life.

I could only hope that I would have been able to fill my duties painstakingly, building you up to be the best YOU that you can ever be. But your mother took that from me in 2007/2008 she made it clear that I am nothing to you, apart from a money machine, to which she cant even be honest about.

I can see that shadow of mine trying to creep in, trying to dim your sparkle, when instead you could be shining under the spotlight. It is my resolve to give you the necessary tools you will need to shine bright without hesitation, learning how to hold back that shadow trying to creep in. Your bucket of self-worth will be overflowing by the time you go off to face the world alone.

Every passing day it seems that you go on and prove to me again and again just how close that bucket is to being full already. For that, you should be ever so proud and feel pleased with yourself.

So many girls in your generation will never know how much they are truly worth from the inside out. Those girls lack a mama who will enlighten them, teaching them to believe in the 6 B’s: Books Before Boys and Brains Before Beauty they lack a daddy that is there 99% of the time due to the mama´s drama.

There’s a delicate softness inside of you, my dear child. Just underneath the superficial layer of ostentatious dramatics you wear with conviction, there’s an open-minded, warm-hearted tenderness that draws people to you like a magnet. Especially those who need extra emotional TLC.

This gift will take years for you to come to terms with and accept. It may feel like a curse right now while you are still so young and inexperienced because your maturity and wisdom are rapidly developing, more than I’m ever ready for. The scope of your sophistication doesn’t reach beyond what is contained to your own childhood, unable to fully comprehend the needs of those that flock around you and kept away from you.

One day, I do promise, your ability to nurture those in need will eventually open your world up bigger than you’ve ever dreamt it could. I’ve never known a girl who loves to love just as much as I, your father, do. Once you cultivate and refine your sensitivity for the needs of others, your love will become explosive and limitless.

That softer side of you also hides a fierce but vehemently unseasoned protector of all those in her flock and family without hesitation or questioning. You’ll stand up for anyone under attack, ready to defend the goodness in everyone until your last breath, yet you won’t hesitate to call someone out for a wrongdoing of their own. I hope that the true colors of your mom and her family will not scar you for life. I am glad my aunts and mom had little amounts of time in your life, even if it was used against them by your mom.

There’s something about you when you’re upset over a grave injustice which stirs up just enough crazy with your passion and makes you a bit intimidating. It takes less than 3 seconds to send you into a tizzy that can cause hairs on my head to bypass gray and skip straight to 90-year-old-man white. Yet you will be the first one to befriend the enemy, calling a truce, making peace, and offering a helping hand so they don’t feel threatened by life any longer.

Hugs flow aplenty when you’re around! Even your teacher use to says there’s never been such an overabundance of hugs from just one student in her First Grade classroom before she had you as a student this year.

When you cry, it comes straight from the depths of your heart, your sobs shaking the very foundation upon which our house lies. That nurturing nature you’re developing is ready to lift up everyone who’s fallen down and hug away the pain, regardless of what happened to land them there. Many adults will never have that in them, yet you do, and so young still.

That’s something that should make you feel spectacularly special, my love. Just like I feel about you.

Your childhood is over the halfway point now, and it’s going to begin winding down as you begin to inch closer through your teenage years. In fact, I can already see the beginning signs of your coming maturation taking effect.

It is increasingly important for you, now more than ever, to pay close attention to all the knowledge that I’m tried to teach you about the ways of this world. These lessons are irreplaceable and priceless in building up your confidence and self-esteem until they’re overflowing from your bucket, and they will be invaluable tools in coping with and solving the problems of the real world.

For someone of your age, your intelligence level continually astonishes me and worries me when it comes to keeping your head on straight further down the road.

When your iron will is challenged, the facetiousness of your forthcoming argument keeps me on my toes; otherwise, you’d be dancing across me, wearing those two-inch heels and glamour girl makeup I specifically forbid from ending up on your body before you’re old enough to vote.

These next few years are a time to take in everything, so you’re fully prepared to take on the world one small baby step toward leaving the nest at a time.

My beautiful, beautiful girl.

This dad cannot believe that you are that same newborn who was so content, laying back and taking it all in. Where you once were happy with just being near your family, now you’re only content when the show revolves around you.

It is my wish for you to stay this true to yourself throughout the rest of your life. Take all that I am giving you and follow your heart; the rest of life will fall into place on its own. Just don’t ever stop sharing your love, don’t close your heart or your mind, and don’t doubt these words I write to you.

With all that you are, you can fight any good fight that comes your way and rise above.

Love yourself before you let others in to steal your heart away, or you’ll find yourself lost and empty feeling, looking for that love everywhere but within your own self. I know if you take heed, life will be a wondrous adventure for you, and you’ll find the strength to make your dreams a reality.

The day you were born changed my life forever. You, my sweet Baby poohkey, brought a light into my world that altered my vision and dreams forever. You have given me a gift just by being here, being my daughter, and I’m so grateful and appreciative to have been chosen to receive the gift that is you.

Know that I will always be here, your lighthouse in the harbor, guiding your way with a love for you that flows unconditionally, and once you ship off, setting sail for the freedom of your own course in life, you will always be able to turn home again, finding your way safely back to my open arms.

No matter that your mom has stood in our way for 12 years, jealous of the love you have for me, so much that she had to scar both of us.

I love you, my baby girl. My young lady. Be who you are meant to be — always more, but nothing less. And at the very least, always remember :

Girls go to college to get more knowledge. Boys go to Jupiter to get more stupider.

love you for ever

daddy