Dear daughter,

I first want you to know that no matter how you may be feeling, your dad and I are so proud of you, and we love you so very much. But I have a few pieces of advice for you, that I feel I am responsible for giving, as your mother.

1. You are never too old for Disney.

Many of your friends will say you are once you hit a certain age, but really you're never too old for Disney, and you should never be ashamed to say you love Disney

2. There is no such thing as too much makeup.

A lot of people will talk about how young ladies should not be "caking on" makeup and how so-and-so has too much makeup on. Don't buy into that BS. You wear as much makeup as you please, and never let anyone make you feel bad for your make up.

3. You are allowed to wear whatever you damn well, please.

This is a biggie. Your dad may not like his little girl wearing certain things, but that is not your dad's choice, it's yours. If your dad ever yells at you for an outfit, just let me talk to him. It's your body. And your dad realizes this. You are just his little girl, and he does not want to lose you.

4. Never forget who is really there for you.

I know a lot of times, you're going to feel very alone in the world, but always remember that even if you don't want to talk to me or your dad, you have friends that deeply care for you and would love nothing more than to help you.

5. Cussing does not make you any less "ladylike."

For a while growing up, I heard a lot of "cursing isn't ladylike" and I eventually decided for myself that was bullshit, and let the profanities fly. I never want you to suppress yourself to please others. If you want to curse like a sailor, go for it.

6. It is always your choice.

You know exactly what I am talking about when I say this. Your body, your choice. If you are ever feeling pressured, very firmly stand your ground. If you are comfortable, then go for it. Whether you choose to wait or choose not to wait, me and your dad will not love you any less because of your personal decisions with your body. We just ask that you be safe.

7. Eat the cookie/cake/sweet thing.

Never deny something sweet because you are worried about your weight. Life is too short to turn down cookies because of the calorie count.

8. If you are unhappy, make a change.

If you suddenly become unhappy with your life, change your life. Lose the toxic people. Change your major. Find a new job. Lose some weight. Get a tattoo. Anything that relieves your unhappiness is the right step for you.

9. Do not be afraid to ask for help.

I mean that. With anything. Money, advice, anything. We will help you as best as we can.

10. You are not a lesser human being, no matter what.

NOTHING you do makes you less human. You are still my daughter, you are still a human being. And you always deserve to be treated as such. And if anyone treats you otherwise, you do not need them. No matter who they are to you.

11. Your religion is your choice.

You do not have to have the same religion as me or your dad or your grandparents. Your faith is your choice, and I never want you to think you have to believe any specific way. You are perfectly capable of making this choice yourself.

12. The person you choose to be with is not as important as the person you choose to be.

I am not going to feed you some bull about how "you have to love yourself before you can love someone else" because that is entirely false, and I never want you to think that it is true. But. You do need to know who you are before someone else can get to know you. Because the right person will love you for who you already are, not the person they want you to be.

13. You do not owe anyone anything.

I don't mean money. If someone loans you money, you should always make an effort to pay it back. I'm talking about the people who help you, and then think that means you owe them something. This can range anywhere from the person who helps you get a job, to the person you end up marrying. They are not responsible for your success, you are.

14. Please don't feel afraid to talk to me.

I know there are going to be things you don't tell us. We are your parents, after all, and we will respect your privacy. But if you just had your first kiss, don't be afraid to come home and tell us about it. If you are failing a class, don't be afraid, to be honest with us. We may not be happy that you are failing, but we will help you work to get the grade up. If you need advice, on anything, don't be afraid to come to us.

15. My love for you is unconditional.

I know that you are not even conceived yet, but I already know that I and your father will love and support you no matter what. We will love you if you are gay. We will love you if you are transgender. We will love you if you get tattoos and/or piercings. We will love you if you choose not to go to college. We will love you when you make stupid decisions. We will love you when you hide things from us. We will love you if you're an atheist. Nothing you do will change that you are our kid, and we love you.