To My Daughter, On Her Birthday

Dearest one,

Eleven years in the blink of an eye,
my first baby and my only daughter.
You are pure sunshine and fire,
gentle fierceness, and brightest smiles.

I watch you grow and I learn with you,
how to be brave,
how to be strong,
how to hold hope in one hand
and curiosity in the other.

I see you create and sketch,
your mind an infinite expanse.
You explore, you plant seeds,
you tell stories, and you remind me
how vast and beautiful becoming can be.

I stand beside you, gently cheering,
for the young woman you are becoming
and marvel at the light that
shines from within you.

And I am learning beside you,
becoming and striving to be the mother
you deserve and a safe place you can come home to.

Happiest birthday, my darling and remember,
my love with be with you,
always and forever.