My Darling Tahlia

You are thirteen. Just like that and we have been together for thirteen magical years. It has been an honor and a privilege to take care of you and to watch you grow.

I have written many letters to you. Some I have shown you but most of them are in my own archive and I will pass them all to you when the time is right. This was the very first letter that I ever wrote to you. It was a short one and it was written the day you were born.

I wrote this next to the first imprint of your little foot. A blue stamp of your tiny right foot, measuring only 7.5cm, the length of my index finger. I can still remember that day vividly. I decorated the card with dried pressed flowers: miniature purple and yellow Pansies, white lace flowers and pink Scaevolas. Using tweezers,I thoughtfully positioned all the little flowers into a beautiful design. It seemed I had all the time in the world then. I toyed around with different designs while I eagerly waited for you to wake from your nap so that we could cuddle and play. Little did I know that I would never again experience the luxury of free time.

As a birthday surprise, I have asked 25 of your favorite people, (a couple are my favorites) to share a birthday greeting as well as pass on some nuggets of good advice that they wish they had known when they were your age. I hope that you will find inspiration in their words and I hope that you will always be connected to them and treasure this as much as I do.

Love. Mom.