Dear my future daughter,
It is important that you know
In this awfully convoluted paradox of a world
A girl is a burden.
Sometimes it evokes a bitter laugh within me
The fact that a slight difference in biology
Can create such a world of difference.

Dear my lovely daughter,
It is important that you know
One day you will fall in love with someone
You will be filled to the brim
With a happiness that overtakes your entire being
Then your heart will be shattered
And you will struggle to glue together
The jagged pieces into a mosaic heart
You might be used, you might be taken advantage of
But you must not think too much
You will move on
For each experience makes you stronger.
And you are so, so strong.

Dear my beautiful daughter,
It is important that you know
You will be analyzed for your looks
Too dark, too light, too skinny, too fat
Too flat, too curvy, too tall, too short
You will be judged for your actions
Too loud, too quiet, too wild, too boring
Too smart, too dumb, too happy, too sad
But you must not ever try to change
For it is impossible to please everyone.
So please yourself only.

Dear my radiant daughter,
It is important that you know
When you roam around late at night
You will need someone to walk you to your car
When you are alone in an elevator with a man with predatory eyes
Your hand will clutch the pepper spray in your purse
When a sneaky hand slides up your leg
You will be sick to your stomach
Whether you smile at him or not
Whether you wear a short dress or not
It will all happen and you will be scared.
But you must realize
It is not your fault
For the world preys upon all its daughters.
And you are never, ever at fault.

Dear my sweet daughter,
It is important that you know
You do not owe me anything.
Yes, I will give you life and true,
I will give up everything for you
But I will do it because I love you
And not because I want anything in return.
For the world expects a lot from girls
And you must not ever feel
Like you owe anyone anything.
You only owe yourself.

Dear my future daughter,
It is important that you know
You will be expected to get married
And have a child or two or three,
But you must not do what anyone else tells you.
I will never make you do something
That makes you uncomfortable
And lastly, my beloved daughter,
It is important that you know
You are not a son
You are a daughter
And I would not want it any other way.