D,

Today you are twelve years old. Twelve years that have flown by too fast, leaving me reflecting back on the blur that was your first tooth, your first steps, your first ballgame, your first plane ride…all of those special firsts that will forever be part of my memory.

I don’t know if there’s a way I can begin to explain how special these years have been to me, how special you are to me. I am proud to see you become the young lady you’re becoming and making the choices you make. In so many ways you reaffirm the job your mother and I have done in raising you.

You are two thirds of a way towards being a legal adult, and the next six years will fly by fast. Enjoy them.

You won’t always agree with every decision we make, but know that it’s done in love. Try to be patient with us and we’ll try to be patient with you. You’ve never been a teenager before, and I’ve never been the DADDY of a teenager before. It’s new ground for us.

Know that even when we disagree with you, we will always love you. And nothing you can do will ever change that.

Know that you will be put in a position to make choices. Some of those choices will be good, others will be bad. And the consequences of those choices can last many years. We would like to be there to help you make those choices. You may not always agree with those choices, but we hope you will listen.

When you do make a bad choice, please remember we are always there for you. We won’t protect you from the consequences of your choices, but we will always be there to help you handle them.

Above all, never close the doors of communication. We love you and will always be there for you, even when you may not want us there.

Happy 12th birthday, and welcome to a new chapter in your life.

Love always,

Dad