Letter to my daughter who is so very beautiful

Dear 16-year-old baby girl, I know you now think we’re old and we don’t get you.

Am sure you cannot fathom mommy and daddy ever being young, or dating. But we did.

The thought of you dating is terrifying; daddy has over the years developed a bald head thinking about it.

Having been a young man himself, daddy understands how young men are sometimes driven to madness by beauty such as yours.

Plans are underway to acquire a ferocious German shepherd dog and an imposing gate.

Daddy has even begun spreading rumours that he used to be in the army and can kill a man using his bare hands, to scare boys away.

Daddy and mommy love you, and although we hope our love is enough, reality is someday you will fall in love with a boy, and he might break your heart. Mommy understands this only too well.

Daddy on the other hand is likely to keep you under lock and key, afraid you will hurt yourself and the utter despair he will feel when he helplessly watches you pick up the pieces of your broken heart will be too much for him to bear.

Don’t hold it against him, he only means well. But mommy will have your back!

Within limits, of course.

Sweetheart you are brilliant! You light up the room with your eyes and your smile charms even the coldest of hearts.

You have beautiful hair, beautiful skin, wonderful complexion, sweet voice, and lovely dimples. God showed favour while creating you. That, however, means trouble for mommy and daddy.

We hope to raise you to value what’s inside of you rather than your physical appearance.

I could give you any number of clichés on “letting your beauty radiate from inside” but I will give you this one truth: substance and character stay with you longer than good looks.

So by all means cultivate wit, personality, grace, character and love. These are qualities that you can acquire – need to acquire – to be a good woman.

Focus on being a good friend, a good woman, a good sister, a good daughter and everything else will fall into place.

Lastly my sweet, don’t be afraid to date. Hang out with boys so that you know how they think, for with knowledge comes power. Learn to pull yourself up when you fall down, but never lose your grace.

And always remember, no man or woman will ever love you more than mommy and daddy do.