Hi Mom

Dear Mom,

I've noticed the change. I know my siblings don't notice it, but they did not spend as much time with you growing up as I did. I noticed. You're trying. You're growing. You're realizing that you were emotionally distant from your kids as they grew.
We went hiking together and it was the first time you and I ever did anything together without ending up fighting. We have spent almost all summer together and this is the first time in my memory where we are actually getting along without fighting. What is more... you're telling me you're proud of me.
You're telling me I matter.... You never used to do that. You forgot. Yet you're doing it now. You're not yelling you're showing love and understanding. You were there for me when I was sick. You were there for me when I was hurt and you have been helping me get ready for my trip abroad. You have been listening to me and spending time with me.
Mom I want to say I love you. I have watched you deal with self struggle and watched you hurt me and others. I have watched you hurt yourself as much as you hurt me. I can honestly say that I love you. I have never not loved you. Yet I really really love you now. I finally feel like you love me back and I cry to think about how much I've wanted that. I've wanted my mother all my life and I finally feel like I have her. You are my rock right now and I love you so much. I finally had the courage to tell you that I had planned to move away and never speak to you again when we were hiking and you took it in stride. I don't want to do that anymore. I know I told you that but I mean it. Ever since you started to try to care. Ever since you started working on your own life and started realizing how distant you've been I could not love you more. I have always wanted to help you anyway I could but now I finally feel like I have a mother. The woman who was supposed to love me no matter what. I finally see that you care about me and it makes me feel so secure. It makes me feel so much better, like a weight is off my shoulders and I can finally breath freely. All I have ever wanted to do is make you proud and I feel like I finally am doing something and it makes me so happy

Sincerely,

Your ever emotional daughter. 

Dear Society

Dear Society,

Thank you for calling me pretty. I love the compliments.
Thank you for liking my hair. I love my curls.
Thank you for liking my appearance. I like my body too.
Yet, what else do you like about me? Am I only a pretty girl? Is there nothing else that is admirable about me? Do I have no other redeeming trait in my life? I feel as if the only thing people like about me is my face. Part of me wishes that you would see more of me. Would think of something else to like about me besides how god made me physically.
Thank you for wanting me sexually, but is my body the only good thing about me?
If all you want is my body.... then wait till I die because soon my physically beauty will smother my personality and I doubt I'll survive it.

Sincerely,

A girl wanting something more than an empty compliment.