Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

white formal dress for girls

Motherhood started for me in my late twenties, in many ways I already felt like an adult but having the responsibility of my daughter made adulting real for me. I like to joke that she was such a joy that she made me want more kids like her. I’ve watched her heart grow and her welcome first her brother and now her baby sister. She’s the best example of a big sister they could have and she was the best initiation into motherhood I could of had. Not only is she beautiful but she’s a breath of fresh air. I’ve also had some of my more challenging moments as a mother caring for her. When she was a toddler, she had severe food allergies and couldn’t eat five different foods at one point. Getting through her food allergies and asthma has definitely made me a stronger person and mother. Her hospitalization when she was only 3 made me appreciate having healthy children, and I count my blessings daily. It also makes days like this when I watch her stand in proud, tall and beautiful even more special to me.

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

As I mentioned back in October, I realized that she’s coming into her own person now that she’s 7 so I spend more time talking with her than talking to her. I try to listen more, speak less and give her what she needs when I see it: encouragement, love, motivation, sometimes a laugh. One thing I love her about her is that she’s not shy to ask so that makes life easier.

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

 

What I love most about my big girl, she knows that she’s magic, she’s black girl magic, and she loves that about herself. This was what I wanted more than anything else for her when I found out I was having a baby girl and cut all of my chemically straightened hair off. I wanted her to feel good in her skin, hair, body, voice, intelligence, etc. I know we’re not entirely over the hurdle yet since she’s seven but watching her rock her afro with confidence and loads of self-love makes me proud and happy.

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

When we went dress shopping, and she tried this dress on for the first time, she looked in the mirror, and she was amazed at her amazingness. It’s not about the fancy dress though; it’s about a 7- year-old girl who knows who she is and is happy with that person. My job is to make sure that she lets the world change her, I will do everything in my power to protect that.

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

So this is her last Saturday in the fanciest dress she’s worn so far for her communion ceremony. I know she will wear fancier ones in her life. It’s by Sweetie Pie Collection and I purchased it for her at a local boutique here in New York. I plan to take more photos of her in it as we travel this summer and make her a book of her fancy white dress in different locales.

I wrote about this before but I wanted to say again that since she is a tall girl, I’m very protective of her. I often fear that people think she’s older than she is so I let them know her age very early in our interaction. I want her to enjoy all of her childhood and as I shared my fears based on my experience as a tall child but I try my best to stifle those thoughts, and I feel joy when she tells me how much she loves her height and to see her beam in it. She even asked for heels for the occasion (I got her age appropriate one-inch “heels”).

Thoughts on Watching My Daughter Grow Up

How do you feel watching your kids grow?

Shop my favorites!
[email protected]