Barbie Beaton's Blog

Dear Teen Daughter

Posts with this symbol are an experiment. Read with love.
Posts with this symbol are an experiment. Read with love.

Dear Teen Daughter,

(I’m not posting your picture because I know you’d be angry that I shared it with every human, entity, and crumb that composes the Milky Way galaxy. (Especially because they all read my blog.) And just so you know, you DON’T look stupid.)

I’m writing you a list of the ten eleven most important things I want you to stow in the depths of your DNA, because in a matter of years you won’t be one amongst four who love you with all their hearts, but one amongst millions billions who don’t give a crap about your heart.

1. So why don’t we start with heartbreak? It will kill, crush, and pulverize you. You’ll cry yourself drier than the Sahara, road trips with Dad so we don’t have to stop and pee, and then some more. Give yourself time to weep, but then move on. Immerse yourself in something new (like pickle making) and get back into life. Give those pickles to a new, cuter, smarter guy.

2. You are smart. Remember that. Even when you stick your foot in your mouth, the whole world won’t think you’re stupid. They’ll think you’re human. But as I say, just because we’re smart, it doesn’t mean we don’t do stupid things.

3. Be human: care about everyone. I mean care about EVERYONE. From the Donald Trumps to the Donald Ducks, the homeless and the toothless, the hut dwellers and the tent aboders. They’re human and have the same emotional and physical needs that you do.

4. Don’t ask permission. Ex. Don’t ask, “Can I go to the mall?”, rather say those same words in a statement: “To the mall I can go.” If you give the world the option to say no, they will.

5.  Protect your assets. Yes, I meant to say that. This includes your body, your brain, your spirit, and your integrity. DO NOT allow criticism, including your own, to break down your guard.

6. Aim high. Not the weed kind of high, the expectations kind of high, with guys, school, work, friends, and happiness. You’re worth it.

7. Be creative. Creativity solves problems. Unless it’s me sewing. That actually creates problems. Whatever your version of my sewing is, just avoid it.

8. Love animals. A person’s capacity to care for humans can be determined by how they treat animals. Eating certain animals doesn’t count in this. Just look at poor toothless Gator. He loves you so much.

9. Be good at finding things. Females are generally the ones who have to find everything, including finding something good in a person everyone hates. Remember how you found your sister’s tooth for the tooth fairy in the garbage can with spaghetti all over? Keep doing that.

10. Travel the world. It’s a big, big place and you’re likely to get lost, especially when you need to use a bathroom really, really badly. The more you travel, the more you’ll know your place in the world. It just might be a place with a bidet.

11. Love nature. Trees are really great at helping people think, at least for me. Remember how you wore your skateboard helmet at the Bison Range because you were scared terrified mortified of mountain lions? Do what you have to do to enjoy nature. She is a curer of every ill.

(OK, I know I said I wouldn’t put up your picture, but this was years ago and you’re both so cute. Sophie looks devious with her deadly blade of grass.)

Love Mom

20 thoughts on “Dear Teen Daughter”

  2. That was awesome. Loved you ‘tongue-in-cheek’ rewrites. And the sewing advice.

    1. Thank you so much. It was fun to write and my daughter liked it. Success!

  3. Barbie, that is the most gorgeous thing I’ve read in a long time – you are very wise, and your girls are very lucky. And I’m taking some of that advice – thank you.

    1. Hi Janelle a world away! That is a really, really great compliment. Thank you so much.

  4. I’d say you hit the nail on the head! Wonderful post and I hope your daughter reads it over & over (the good stuff you have to) & shares it with all her friends (girls & guys). I’m glad you enjoyed my post.

    1. Thank you so much. It was fun to write. My daughter read it with only one complaint-so that means she liked it!

  5. What a great mom you are! I really wish someone would have told me these things when I was a teen. Great job. I love your style 🙂

    1. Oh my goodness, thank you. I have had many, many moments of not-so-greatness as a mother and a human.

    1. Thank you so much. As for permission, under our roof, it’s a must:) Thank you for commenting and I look forward to reading your blog.

    1. We live 10 minutes from bear country, so nature is a part of our lives. We Montanans are versatile-backcountry one day, city the next. Oh, and thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate that.

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