Dear Abby,
I remember holding you in my lap on the day that you were born, sometime in the small hours of the morning. I knew I was cradling a miracle--a love so pure and profound that I felt bone-deep joy and a visceral terror that I was going to do things wrong in raising you. I vowed to you that I would be the best mother I could be and that if it were in my power, you would always be safe, secure and loved. That was my first promise to you and I hope you feel as if I have kept it.
I cannot believe that almost 18 years have passed and you are now on the brink of adulthood, ready to start the next adventure in your life. I look back and feel as if I have missed some of it, even though I was there for everything. Everything feels as if it should take longer, but your childhood feels like a slow blink. I closed my eyes only for a second and then opened them to find you transformed from charming, precocious toddler to a beautiful, composed young woman.
I am sure you are ready to fully step into who you have been becoming all these years, but I am not so certain I am ready to let you go. Every day, from the moment you arrived, you've been revealing all these wonderful qualities of personality to me. I am impressed by you every single day. You are kind, thoughtful, compassionate. You are both intellectually and emotionally intelligent. You are funny and goofy and sweet. I will miss having your daily presence at home. You make it a peaceful, happy respite from the rest of the world and I will definitely be aware of your absence.
I love the way you love your brothers. I love the way you tease, guide, and interact with them. I love your courage to try new things and to share your opinions freely. Your confidence and bravery inspire to move beyond my own comfort zone. I love that you love to laugh and that you embrace your quirkiness unashamedly. I just love you, Abby.
I am excited by your future. With all your talents and abilities and with the mature mindset you've maintained, I know you will be successful at whatever you choose to do. I want you to know you can always come home (and I hereby officially claim all Christmases and Easters preemptively). I will support you in whatever you choose to do and I pray that you, above all else, are healthy, happy, and strong mentally, physically and emotionally.
Congratulations on your graduation, Babs! Momma loves you from the bottom of her heart, infinity plus two, to the moon and back. You are an amazing young woman and I am so lucky that you are my daughter.
Love,
Momma
