Over the past 22 years, my mom has taught me numerous valuable lessons, several of which have stuck with me through the years. I hope to be half the mom to my future daughter as my mom is, and has been, to me. In saying that, here are 25 things that my mom has taught me that I want to pass on to my future daughter.

1. Chase your dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem.

2. I may not always agree with the choices you make, but they will never make me love you any less.

3. You don’t always need to be in a relationship. Take time to be yourself – do what you want to do, find who you are. God will place a man in your life at the right time.

4. Travel. Yeah, money is tight when you’re young, but don’t let the hold you back. If God is calling you to do mission work or to travel, He will most definitely provide.

5. You are beautiful just the way you are. Don’t let anyone ever tell you differently.

6. A little makeup goes a long way. There’s no need to make yourself look like a clown.

7. When you start to think about your career, think about what you’re passionate about. Money isn’t everything, and it really isn’t worth it if you’re stuck at a job you hate.

8.Be careful when you choose your friends. Girls are mean.

9. Life isn’t a fairy tale. Don’t be upset when you don’t feel like Cinderella at the ball every day.

10. You are loved. Your family loves you. Your friends love you. I love you. But above all, God loves you and He always has your best interest in mind.

11. Never, ever settle for less than you deserve.

12. It may seem crazy, but I’ve been where you are. I know what it’s like. You can always talk to me.

13. Having your heart broken sucks and it’s inevitable. When this happens, don’t push people away. Spend time with friends. Do girly things. Find time to laugh.

14. Having a smart mouth and an attitude out of this world is also inevitable. It runs in the family. We’ll probably butt heads a lot because of this. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you.

15. Respect yourself. A guy’s opinion of you does not define you.

16. There is more to you than your body. If a guy can’t see that, he doesn’t deserve you.

17. Don’t be afraid of sex, but know that God created that to be a great thing inside of a marriage.

18. Growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t be in such a hurry.

19. Enjoy the little things. Take in the beauty of sunsets. Spend time with friends. Stay up late every now and then. Just breathe it all in.

20. Work hard in everything you do. Especially in school. I promise it will pay off.

21. It’s okay to be smart. Never feel like you need to dumb yourself down around other people.

22. Be a lady, but you don’t always have to be girly. Have respect and always use your manners. But, if you want to paint your nails, do it. If you want to go fishing and play in the mud, do that too.

23. I will always be here for you. No matter where your dreams lead you, remember the road that’ll lead you home.

24. Trust God in every situation. Make your faith your own. Take time to worship and talk to God like He’s your best friend. He cares about you and He understands when it seems like no one else does.

25. Last but not least, never forget that you will always be my baby girl, no matter how big you get. You may outgrow my arms, but you will never outgrow my heart. I love you to the moon and back.