(For Bea)
You bark when you're happy With the cutest smile I've ever seen You're an odd one and I love it
The pure joy I see in you talking about all sorts of things You're a passionate one and I love it
Even when you know what you want I still have to pry it out of you You're a stubborn one and I love it
The love in your eyes when you're looking at me You're a me one and I love you
If you don't speak no one can know what's on your mind how you're feeling what you need right now
If you never take up space no one can know the wonderful things you do all those sparkling dreams you dream who you really are
If you always run away you will never know all the joy of staying the love and warmth of others the feeling of belonging
Please speak up; I want to know your heart Please take up space; I want to know your mind Please don't run away; I want you in my life Please let me know you; I want the chance to love you
Get loved feel accepted for who you are without condition
Get adored feel absolutely worshipped for what you love doing without apology
Get cherished feel wanted and needed by the ones you love every single day
I hope you feel like this all the time because even if you struggle to believe it I know with absolute certainty
That you deserve it
You taught me How to step back and breathe How to love unconditionally How to take breaks
You were there When I missed the bus When my son was born When something in my house broke
You accepted me Through every shortcoming Through every breakdown Through every change
You are My support My friend My dad
It's been a year since I last held you Since I last saw your smile Since I last felt your joy
I still think of you How you were always happy How you thought you were bigger than everyone else How you always took care of me
I can see your ghost When I come home to quiet When I wake up to no one there When I lie down and no one runs over to me
One year later I still cry for you I still love you I still miss you
I was a broken toy Cast aside by so many people Whenever they'd pick me up, I'd smile and hope they'd accept me But they never did
Over time, I learned that I was no good to anyone No one wanted me I could only look forward to being thrown away
Then one day, you came along Picked me up and looked me over And said, “She's not broken, She just needs a little love.”
You took me home You cared for me and loved me And showed me that I wasn't broken That all those other people were wrong I did just need a little love
It might be a long time before I really believe it but we've got plenty of time So thank you for giving me A little love
When we met it was all so new But where I saw fear You saw hope
You said it'd be okay that no matter what, I was loved And I was glad
I have new friends Because you told me it was okay to accept them To let them help me
I got to know you I came to love you And for a time I got to have a best friend again
Now you're gone forever And all I've got left are my memories of you And the hope you gave me
I'll never forget you I'll use the lessons you taught me In your brief time in this world to help others like you
And in the end even though I cry every day I'm GLAD I met you and I wouldn't change it for the world
You made an image and gave it my name You tried to capture me but it wasn't quite right
When you learned this you got angry “Why isn't she like this?” You asked yourself And you took it out on me
You never loved me You loved an image of me That you made up
That's not my fault
I'm kind and snarky Loving and anxious Flirty and cuddly And so much more That you will never know Unless you get to know me instead of that image In your head
Know all of me Accept all of me Love all of me
I didn't understand at first I thought you were controlling That you worried too much That you didn't care
But now I see it You tried to guide me You were worried Because you did care
Now here we are After countless shouting matches After so many times I stormed off And none of that matters now
you worry you try to do everything you never stopped loving me you accept me as your daughter you always make sure I'm eating you always check in on me you care
That's why I love you That's why I'm proud to be your daughter That's why I'm proud to call you
Mom
Free compliments! Right here, just go ahead and take one No need to be shy, they're completely free
You're pretty You're smart You're handsome You're doing a great job
See, it's easy to compliment someone Find something you like about them Even if it's something small, there's something there We all need more compliments
You see, there are so many people out there that don't know how to take a compliment because they've never been given one or they received the same ones over and over again and don't believe there's anything more to them
So please, take a compliment Let it build you up and when you're finished with it Be sure to pass it on