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Dear, Little Lady,
In a few short days, you will be five. Five years old: well out of the baby stage but not quite a big kid.
You’re passionate about your rights, passionate about fairness and passionate about life. Everything is a game of hide-and-seek and an impromptu dance recital. In your high-pitched falsetto — forced vibrato ringing out — you declare each day as “AWESOOOOOME!”
But, as I look into your bright green eyes, shining orbs that only see friends and beauty, I wish I could be you for just a brief moment. One moment to once again believe all is right with the world. One moment to play without abandon and to believe I can conquer everything set before me.
Just one moment to live without restraint.
I want to remember these days, Little Lady — remember them till the day I die. Remember these moments.
What I Want To Remember About YOU, The Little Lady
I want to remember your made-up,”stream-of-consciousness” songs that you sing all day long. Songs about getting dressed. About taking care of the baby. About your Mommy making you pancakes … and how they are awesome … and how your Mommy is a piece of your heart. I love it.
I want to remember your love of all things glitter and lipstick and nail-polish and blue eyeshadow. You cast it all on and feel divinely beautiful. You take it all off and you still feel the same. Confident. Proud.
I wish I could bottle it all up and save it for when you’re fifteen and you encounter your first “Mean Boy.” I would open the bottle and make you drink your four-year-old self-pride. Because right now, you believe in yourself.
I want to remember your world is not black and white or even gray. It’s green and purple and yellow and pink. Lots and lots of pink in this world — moments of bliss and cotton-candy clouds that waft over head.
I get so busy in the mundane of check-lists and calendars that I forget to stop and relish the colors of life. . . until I see a picture you have colored, with a periwinkle-blue sky and fuchsia flowers and red leaves on the summer-time trees. I need to live in your technicolor world.
How Long Will All Of This Last, Little Lady?
I don’t remember when I stopped being a little girl — that moment when my eyes became a woman’s eyes. Jaded. Cynical. Critical. Was I 21? 16? 12? 7? I don’t remember the moment I stopped believing I was invincible, and I don’t remember the instant I saw the world in monochromatic shades of gray. But it happened. Perhaps slowly, over many days and months and years. Slowly I stopped dancing and began to walk. I stopped singing and began to talk. I stopped coloring and began to analyze. The exuberance of Little Girlhood exited stage right.
I wish I could freeze this time, my girl — your time. As much as I can’t wait to see the young woman you become, I wish I could keep you here. As you are now. Unaware of evil. Ignorant of hate. Oblivious of self-criticism. You love yourself, your family, and the world.
I want you to always be the way you are now. . . and I hope I can help you grow up without losing your little girl’s heart.
Because, Little Lady, you are so right.
You, and your world, are “AWESOOOOOME!”
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About Rachel Lacy
My name is Rachel -- I share tales about food and family. I'm a home-cook who focuses on fresh & simple meals to both fuel us and to help us celebrate our family-life. My day starts with coffee. Lots of coffee. 
Monday - Corn Casserole, Pepper Steak, Salad
Tuesday - 
You really have a cute and adorable daughter. It is really nice to make memorable memories with our kids. Indeed, I always make it sure that there are unforgettable time I spent with my kids.
Aw, happy birthday to the little lady! And I am still laughing at the 93 – LOL I doubt I will remember my own name at that age!
I suspect that she’ll retain a lot of that personality! Your love for her is so precious.
That’s beautiful. Happy birthday to your daughter.
Oh, Rachel. Stop it. You are making me cry. I love every single word and every single picture in the post. You are incredibly blessed to have little lady and she is incredibly blessed to have you…
What I wouldn’t give to be my five year old self again.
You should have seen me when I was writing it!
Beautiful pots Rachel. Your daughter reminds me so much of my oldest. Love the photos. Happy 5th Birthday Little Lady!
Ugh. You made me cry. And I hardly ever cry. :p Every single word of this post was just beautiful.
Happy Birthday Little Lady! Never lose your sparkle darling it’ll carry you through many a hard day and always believe in some sort of childish fantasy.
I see two beautiful girls! Love this: “I want to remember your world is not black and white or even gray. It’s green and purple and yellow and pink”
As tears stream down I want to let you know what an awesome mom and writer you are. You are right her world is awesome with rainbow colors and music everywhere. May you be able to help it last for many years. She is so blessed to have a family that will help keep her world as techno color as it for as long as they can.
Awesome awesome post! Love it, and she reminds me of my own daughter.
How adorable!!! Happy Birthday to your little lady!
I LOVED this post, Rachel! It literally brought tears to my eyes. This is my wish for my son that he never loses his little boy’s heart. And what I would give to have my little girl’s heart back. Happy Birthday to your Little Lady!
Oh my gosh, this is so touching…how beautiful!
That was a really lovely letter. It was kind of hard for me to read because my oldest son has autism and we haven’t ever lived in that world. So please relish what you have. You and your child are so fortunate.
This is so touching and so well written! I hope you’ve printed it *just in case*!
Today is my oldest little lady’s birthday and she’s 8. Perhaps it’s the day, your exquisite way of writing or both, but I am teary like a blubbering fool <3
oh my word! This post was soooooo beautiful! Oh Rachel, it was awesome! (And I couldn’t read it without my 5 year old daughter saying, “What? Mommy go back up! Look, Ariel! Look, she’s funny!”)
Aww, happy birthday to the little lady!
Amazing… I love how you opened up and spilled it here. I don’t remember the moment my eyes became that of a woman either… but oh to have the open heart of a 4 year old! =)
What a wonderful sweet post!
What a beautiful letter! I cried reading it – especially the part about bottling herself and sharing it after her first mean boy moment. Wouldn’t that be great! Happy Birthday to your little lady!
Happy Birthday! My daughter just had a birthday yesterday…they grow up so fast!
So precious – Happy Birthday little lady!
What a beautiful post! Happy 5th birthday!!!!!