One of my most vivid memories, one that makes me tear up every time, is the day you were born. You see, we bonded from that very moment you opened your eyes, you took my breath away and locked onto my heart forever. I smiled and held your hand, and a nurse looked at me and said, "Oh my, she's definitely a Daddy's Girl." She was right.
     We've shared laughs and we've shared tears, happy times, sad times, and differences of opinions. Through it all, I've given you space to grow, to learn, to struggle, to fail. But, no matter what, you've always known that I'm here for you. Here to listen, here for a hug, here for a shoulder to cry on, here to give you advice, and if you need it, here for shelter, to reset, to focus again on those days of happiness that you know are there, at your fingertips.
     I know that you never want more than happiness and perhaps that's because I've preached for years that happiness is all that matters. When you are happy, I see your heart shine, I feel it. I've always seen that beacon in you, casting light in the night, protecting those you love, yet not always thinking about the light that should shine on you. I raised you not to be selfish, to share happiness and love, to give more than you take. You have always done exactly that.
     Now that I have more experience as a Dad since that morning you were born, and you have grown to be a beautiful lady, adulting, giving your life every effort to be happy, I want you to be selfish for just a little while. I want you to look in the mirror and smile. I want you to wear that smile, to share it, to be contagious, to spread the joy of life. I want you to live your dreams and to be loved by those of us that share your dreams.
     I want you to laugh and sing like we did that one summer afternoon on the way to the beach. Man, we nailed it that day! I want you to experience the freedom you felt when I pushed you on a swing and you dropped your head back and your blonde haired flowed in the wind. I want you to walk tall with pride like I saw you do each and every time you took to the mats in cheerleading and shout to the world that you are confident and that there's no challenge that can stop you.
     Most of all, I just want to continue to share the relationship we have, the one where you can call me and we can talk about anything, or nothing, but I'll be happy to hear from you and you from me. I want to continue that relationship where I miss you every day and I think about the next time we'll get a chance to share a meal, or sit on the couch and binge watch some show I have no interest in, but because you are next to me, I'll be happy because you'll be happy, or we get back in that car for an encore performance to the beach.
     You see my daughter, life is about singing and listening to the music the world has to offer. It's our life song and it plays now and it plays forever. Each day, we must dance to this song, and if you get tired, know that you can always dance on my toes, and I'll carry us both to the melody that hasn't stopped since the day that you came into my world as my baby girl.

Love,

​Dad

Her eyes opened and we were bound for life.
My baby girl, so precious and innocent,
A blank canvas about to be painted.

As her Dad, my role is to teach and protect,
Teach her responsibility and let her learn.
My shield became her shield as she matured.

A beautiful woman with a huge heart,
Giving and joyful to others in need,
Never asking for anything in return.

As she spread her wings and soared,
I knew there would be awkwardness in flight,
And, perhaps, even a crash or two.

Independence wasn’t found in first flight.
There were turbulence, voids, and gusts
That knocked her around and struck at confidence.

Each hard landing, created another runway,
Off on a new journey to find her way.
The struggles were daunting, yet she persevered.

Today, she is reflecting, hard love meant as inspiration.
She’s furious, scared, wounded, and reserved.
She took her first steps of the day, but is grounded.

She’ll fly again. She’ll soar. She’ll be amazing and free.
I might have wounded her precious heart with love,
I’m her parent and her firm ground, her beacon of hope.

My parenting will never end for my baby bird.
I’ll stop feeding her and providing shelter,
And, I’ll stop checking on her flight pattern.

She’ll find her way someday soon,
I hope it’s through the air of least resistance,
A journey I can now watch, only from a distance.