Chapter 6: Dear Addison

I don't know you yet. I don't know what you'll look like. I don't know if you'll have my eyes or your dad's. I don't know what your personality will be like. I don't know if you'll be shy or outgoing. I don't know what you or don't like. I don't know much about you yet. I do know you love to kick, the sound of your dad's voice, and when I read Yertle the Turtle. And you don't like when I roll a little too far over on my belly at night. I also know that I'm already crazy about you. And that I am going to do my best to be the best mother I can and one you deserve. And I have hopes for you, kid. Lots of hopes.

I hope you learn patience. You will need a lot of patience in this world. I'm sorry to say that you won't always get exactly what you want. Sometimes you have to work hard for it and you still have to wait. Sometimes you will never get what you want at all. And then other times you'll get exactly what you want. But with most things you'll just have to be patient. You'll have to wait. And waiting is hard. But good things often come to those who wait. I have never been a very patient person, so I hope you get your father's patience. It doesn't mean that you always have to wait for what you want, but there will be times when that's all you can do. Just be patient. It's really important.

I hope you aren't afraid to fall. And then fall again and then again. Falling and making mistakes are just part of life. If you become afraid to fall and make mistakes then you become afraid to even try. And I want you to try. I want you to try new things, scary things, different things. It's not always that you will win or succeed in what you try. Nor will you always like it. And that's okay. It's just important that you try it in the first place. The other important thing is remembering to get back up again. The hardest part is getting back up. You may just want to hide under your covers from the rest of the world. And sometimes it is okay to do that, but then you shake it off and get back up and try again or something else. Just keep going. And remember, Little Bit, your dad and I have your back always.

I hope you love what you do. Be in band. Be in drama. Be in debate. Be a lawyer. Or doctor. Or marine biologist. Or a teacher. It doesn't matter what it is. But just love what it is. I'm not saying that there won't be things in life that you will do that you will not like, and unfortunately you just have to get through it and do the best you can. But in the end, chose the things you love. When you decide what career you want to go after, chose something you love. Money is important, but it's not everything. Choose something you have a passion for and you want to get up every day excited to go to work. Just don't choose it because you think that's what we want for you or because you will make more money. Just love what you do. Find your passion and go after it.

I hope you laugh often. Simple enough. Just keeping laughing. And learn to laugh at yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun and enjoy life. Let yourself get those laugh lines on your face.

I hope you never forget to dream. Don't let anyone stop you from being a dreamer. Make a list of things you want to do, find a way to do them, then dream up more things. Don't spend too much time dreaming that you forget to actually live. But keeping dreaming and chase whatever those dreams are. It's okay to dream big. If you want to climb Mount Everest then find a way to climb it. Work hard to conquer that dream. Keep your imagination alive and keep dreaming.

I hope you ignore anyone, including yourself, who tries to tear you down. There will be people who will tell you that you aren't good enough or pretty enough or smart enough. Don't listen. You are good enough, smart enough, and so beautiful. You just come back fighting. Hold your head up and keeping pushing ahead. And sometimes you will be the one to tear you down. It's important to push yourself but don't do it by telling yourself you aren't enough. You are beautiful. You are enough. You are exactly who you are meant to be. Don't tell yourself otherwise. Don't let magazines or the media tell you otherwise. Don't let any boy ever tell you otherwise (And also let your father know if any boy ever does). Be sure of who you are and know that you are enough.

I hope you become independent. I don't want you to be so independent that you don't know how to depend on someone else, but don't let yourself become so dependent that you can't do anything yourself. Learn how to pay the bills, change a tire, cook a meal, fix a leaky pipe. It's okay to be independent and a capable woman. You don't need to be a damsel in distress to find the right guy. But once you find him, let him take care of you. But just be sure you know how to take care of you too. And know that you can always turn to us if you need anything. We aren't going anywhere kid.

What we want for you is to just be yourself and be happy. Don't be ashamed of who you are.

You remember that you are beautiful, smart, special and loved. You are so loved. We both love you so much, Addison Sophia Evans. Never forget that.

Love, 

Mom