This post is an open letter to my daughter on her 12th birthday. Each year on each of my children’s birthdays my husband and I write them a letter to reflect back on the year behind as well as share photos from those favorite moments and memories.
My darling daughter Britt,
Twelve! You are entering your last year of childhood. Of all my kids you are the one who is the most sentimental regarding milestones and I know the specialness of this year isn’t lost on you.
While you are eager to become a teen, you are also very much embracing life as a tween and I know you will make the most of your last year as a little girl (although you’ll always and forever be mine and Daddy’s little girl!).
We often joke, and I’m sure I’ve mentioned this in previous birthday letters, but when you were born, you let out one loud, piercing cry, and Daddy and I said “Ugh, oh, we are in trouble!” Your early days as a baby and toddler were trying, but it was also a genius and strategic move on your part (if a newborn baby can have a strategy!) because every single year with you has just continued to get better and better (and easier and easier as a parent).
I have loved you from the start, but I enjoy you more and more with each passing year. Many moms fear their kids growing older, but I’m loving it. I love the deeper conversations, deeper connections, fun shared experiences, and shared commonalities we’re able to have as you get older.
I’m sure the teen years to come (can’t believe it’ll be next year!) will only be more amazing memories together with you!
Tess continues to be your best friend forever and ever and the bond you two share is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve never seen two sisters so close! Bickering and arguing happen from time to time but are rare and I don’t think I have ever had a moment where either of you tattled on the other or wanted the other to get into any sort of trouble. You have each other’s backs, always.
Your bond is such a huge testament to YOU and the amazing big sister you are. You are Tess’s safe space. You always look out for her, encourage her, and include her. She is never made to feel like an annoyance, you truly WANT her to be part of every part of your life!
I’m interested to see how your relationship with Tess shapes and changes as you grow older. I have noticed some of that beginning to naturally happen this year as you finished up 5th grade and are no longer in school with her each day.
It was a very, very hard transition for Tess not having you at school with her and you truly miss her and are always counting down eager for her to get off the school bus in the afternoons.
You both do such a great job of being close in your bond but also having space to do your own things and have your own interests. You love sports, Tess loves the arts. You love listening to Harry Potter, she loves reading books.
I pray these coming years only find you drawing closer together. The teen years can be tough with heartbreaks, friend drama, and just the struggles of growing up. It’s such a rare gift and blessing to have that unconditional, unwavering love you share with your sister.
Speaking on big changes, I had it on my heart to consider homeschooling for Kye in his 9th grade year and you shocked me by showing interest in homeschooling as well! You have always been such a social butterfly that I was nervous you’d need more socialization than I’d be able to provide at home.
But you have persisted in your desire to not attend public middle school for 6th grade…so you’re now a homeschooler!
I have been so impressed with your work ethic, you are cruising through 6th grade and should finish up well before the end of the school year.
I’ve also been impressed with just how much you have ENJOYED being home. At first I felt this overwhelming pressure to make sure you had plenty of “socialization” but then you explained to me that Tess is your BEST FRIEND. That you don’t need to have another best friend, you just need casual friends to hang out with once in awhile.
It’s worked out so wonderfully and you’ve enjoyed your time at home, have become very plugged in with all the local church youth groups, and have made some connections with a local homeschool group as well.
I love your willingness to jump in and meet new people. Everyone is your friend, you do such a beautiful job of including others. Being yourself is the best gift you can give to others and I’m always so proud of how you aren’t afraid to be YOU! No matter the setting, you are always BRITT!
I tell people that I feel like God led me to homeschooling through Kye but FOR you. You have BLOSSOMED at home. It’s been incredible to see you shine and see your continual goal for personal growth and bettering yourself.
I’ve loved watching you pour into your interests – especially cosmetology. You have a whole plan for finishing up with high school by the time you are 16 so you can enroll in the local cosmetology program as a dual enrollment student and finish the program when you turn 18 so you can get your cosmetology license. Then you want to apply for the Disney College Program!
You have high expectations for yourself and Daddy and I will be right here cheering you on each step of the way!
I love how self-motivated you are and am so thankful for this avenue to allow you so much freedom to explore your interests.
You are still enjoying volleyball and playing both the spring and fall seasons. While you love the sport, and love the competition, you’re also content playing at the local rec league level and don’t have the desire to pursue travel ball.
I know you’ll achieve anything you put your mind to – you are SO well-rounded. Smart, athletic, feminine, tough, strong, not afraid of hard work, compassionate heart, independent, kind, loyal. I tell you all the time how you’ll be some lucky guy’s dream girl because you LOVE sports, LOVE to grub, and make everything more FUN!
You continue to be my Disney bestie and now that you’re homeschooled I’m hopeful we’ll get more Disney getaways more often. I love the way you truly believe in magical things and aren’t ever embarrassed to hug a Disney character or show excitement over fireworks.
You continue to love Harry Potter and listen to the books on repeat, daily. You’ve never been a big reader (fun fact but up to this point you’ve never actually read the Harry Potter series…you only listen to it!) and that is something we’re working on changing during our homeschool time together.
I have to bribe you a bit to get you to read – right now we’re doing a chart and when you fill the chart with reading time you’ll get to go out to eat on a special lunch with me.
I love that even as you turn 12, getting to have a special lunch with Mommy is still considered a prize and something you WANT to do.
Our bond is so very special and I love that you WANT to spend as much time as possible with me. I know that as you get older that will only strengthen. You KNOW your mama always has your back no matter what!
This has been a big year of changes for our family. We made the homeschool decision while finishing up building and moving into our new home.
Whew, the process of building and moving has been TOUGH and I think you’ve felt the heaviness of it the most. I have a lot of “mom guilt” over the tears you’ve seen me shed and the frustrations you’ve felt me carrying.
It has been tough to leave the home you grew up in from birth but you’ve been THE most excited out of the entire family about this move! You love the land and love the new house and have enjoyed the packing and unpacking process.
You’ve been a huge helper but also such a great example to ME on how to jump in, adapt, appreciate what we have, and how to bring a sense of humor even when we may be having a tough time.
So many lessons have been learned a big one being that new things may be scary but the best medicine is to allow for the big feelings, have someone you trust as a sounding board (You always have your mama!), and keep a heart of gratitude.
I am loving how homeschooling has given us more time together but has also given you more time with Kye. I love hearing the two of you joking around in the kitchen together over lunch. Love that you bond over your classes and help each other with practicing volleyball and basketball.
You are blessed with an awesome set of siblings. I love that you both set aside the time after the little kids get home from school to spend time with them.
As Spear has gotten older your bond has gotten closer and you do a great job including him and enjoying him! I pray you all stay close in adulthood and appreciate the incredible gift it is to have each other.
This year was filled with many adventures. We FINALLY got to go on our Disney Cruise! It was well worth the wait.
My favorite memory with you was when the boat took off from the port and we were watching the character show. We looked at each other and just couldn’t believe it was finally happening – that we were actually on the ship!
It was such a special day sharing our first time on a Disney Cruise ship together (hopefully not the last because we LOVED it!)
My favorite memory of the entire trip, though, was actually the last night. You, Tess and I stayed up until midnight. We roamed the ship, met characters and then laid down on the floor in the grand ballroom to stare up at the light and watch as it changed colors at midnight. It was a night that none of us wanted to ever end!
Another favorite trip for me every year is getting away with just you and Tess to hit up Disney World in May. We renew our passes and spend some girl time at the parks. It is SO FUN.
The three of us just always have a BLAST together at the parks. No matter the crowd level, the weather, we are down for whatever and just vibe so perfectly.
Of all the relationships I’ve seen develop for you this year, the one you share with your Daddy has been the most precious to me.
You just adore him and you two really bond over so many common interests. FSU football being the biggest! This was an INCREDIBLE season and it was made even more awesome by the two of you getting to watch all the games together.
I am so thankful that you and Daddy were able to attend the ACC Championship game. We had planned on a special trip with the opposite sex parent when you turn 13 (Kye and I went to NOLA together) but when FSU was having such an amazing season we thought we should bump your trip up sooner.
I’m so glad we did! It was not only an epic game but the two of you had so much fun together in Charleston too. Your daddy loves you so much and I’m so thankful you have these special memories with him.
As you enter this last year of childhood and ready for the teenage years ahead I pray you keep your eyes, heart, and mind focused on Jesus.
Our moving churches has been so wonderful for our spiritual growth as a family and you were such a huge part in that decision – you knew we’d found our new church home before any of the rest of us did!
You have grown so much in your faith and you have loved getting to be involved in the youth group now that you’re in middle school.
I am so proud of the Christian example you are to others. You have two close friends who have not yet been baptized and you pray for them daily. You take notes during the lessons and I never have to worry about you whispering or playing around or not paying attention. You are all in for Jesus!
I know that the path is not going to always be straight. You will have moments that lead you off path or times when you take the longer route.
I know you are grounded in your faith. I know you know the love that your Heavenly Father always has for you (even in a time when you may make a bad choice!) and that we as your family also always have for you too!
I am so incredibly blessed and proud to have the opportunity to be your mom. God has some awesome plans for you and I cannot wait to have the front row seat to the great things to come in the life of my beautiful daughter. You are my sunshine girl forever and ever!
Happy 12th Birthday to my baby girl (scratch that…young lady!). I love you so much.
Love, Mommy
You can read all of my past birthday letters to my daughter, Britt, here:
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