Dear Baby Girl,

I don’t want to tell you that you’re pretty.

Not because I don’t think you are the most perfect, adorable, beautiful thing in the world – because I do.

I don’t want to tell you you’re pretty, because I want to tell you instead, that
you are smart.
you are strong.
you are sweet.
you are loved.

You are so much more than pretty.

I know I won’t be able to help myself
when you twirl in dress up clothes
and after you beg me to paint your nails
and thats okay

I just want to be conscious of the conversations that are had with little girls.
I want to make sure that I’m not reinforcing a culture that tells women they are only worth how they look.

I want you to know you are worth more.

You’ll have plenty of people that tell you you’re pretty
Because that is the easiest thing to talk with little girls about
They’ll compliment your outfit, your eyes, and your hair
Neglecting the more important things that you bring to the world.

So, no. I don’t want to tell you you’re pretty.
Even though you are.