Dakota, You Will Always Be My Baby Girl
Thursday’s Personal Follow-Up | Gran B’s Best Finds
On Tuesday, I shared why I wanted to celebrate my oldest daughter, Dakota, and a few thoughtful ways to thank someone you love. Today, I want to leave a few more words here just for her.
Dakota, this is from your mama.
Before You Made Me Gran B
Before there was a grandbaby to spoil, there was you.
You were the little girl who made me a mama. When I look at that old picture of us together, I remember that we have a whole lifetime of memories that belong to us. Some are in photographs. Others come back to me in the middle of an ordinary day and make me smile.
I still think about coming home from work when you were about three years old. Your Nanny loved watching cooking shows, and there you were, ready to explain a recipe: “Mama, you add this and that, and mmm, it is so good!”
You were so little, with so much to tell me. I’m thankful I have that memory of your little voice.
You have a grown-up life now, but I still want to hear what you have to tell me.
My little Dakota. Memories I will always treasure.
I Want You to Hear This from Me
Sometimes I get busy talking about everything happening in our family, and I may not stop long enough to say what each person means to me. I don’t want to assume you know just because I feel it.
So let me say it plainly: I am proud of you, Dakota.
I’m proud to call you my daughter. I love watching you become your own person and seeing you as a mama. Your hopes matter to me. The things you’re excited about matter to me. And when something is weighing on you, I want to make room to listen.
You deserve to be celebrated on ordinary days, too. I want to do a better job of telling you that and showing it.
My beautiful daughter. I am so proud to be your mama.
Thank You for Being There
You stood beside me during a difficult season, and I haven’t forgotten it. There are parts of that time I’ll keep between us, but my gratitude is something I can say out loud.
Thank you, baby girl.
And I want you to know that you never have to be the strong one for me to be loved by me. You are allowed to need help, to rest, and to have days when you don’t know what comes next. I’m your mama on those days, too.
I loved you long before you could ever do anything for me.
My Baby Girl with Her Baby Girl
Seeing you with your daughter brings up so many feelings. I look at her, then at you, and remember holding you when you were little.
Being Gran B is such a blessing. But becoming a grandma has never made being your mama any less special to me.
I want to remember to ask about you, too—how you’re feeling, what you need, and what you’re looking forward to. I love your baby with my whole heart, and I love the woman holding her just as dearly.
My baby girl holding her baby girl.
Always Your Mama
Dakota, you are seen, you are valued, and you are never forgotten. You never have to earn your place in my heart.
No matter what anyone else says, I believe in you. You are precious to me. Everyone faces trials, and I know some days are harder than others. We can take those days one step at a time. You don’t have to face everything alone.
I thank God for you, and I will keep praying for you. I’ll keep cheering you on, listening, and looking for ways to remind you how much you matter to me.
You are my baby girl, and you always will be.
A little silliness, a whole lot of love. Always your mama.
Love always,
Mama 🤎
To anyone reading: if someone came to mind while you read this, take a moment to tell them what you love about them. They may have needed to hear it today.
With love,
Gran B
