This is a 10th birthday message for my daughter, Tess. Each year, around each of my children’s birthdays, I put together a letter for them in reflection on the year behind and with excitement for the new chapter in their lives on their special day.
I am hopeful that this compilation of heartfelt birthday messages will become a fantastic birthday gift on their 18th birthday and that reading over these birthday wishes from each year of their childhood will be a gift that keeps giving for a long time to come!
Sweet Tessley Capri,
I decided to open this letter with your full first and middle name as it’s what you like to write on each of your school work assignments. I love that you love your name. You have plans to name your future daughter Capri.
It’s a neat thing how parents choose a name for their babies, often without having even met the baby yet. I found the name “Tess” before we even started trying to get pregnant with you!
Names have all sorts of meanings behind them, but once they are attached to a person, they truly come to life. And it’s so awesome how sometimes a name fits a person so perfectly. Tessley Capri instantly makes me think of the calm, beautiful waters in Capri. Tessley has such a sweet sound to it, just like the precious girl who carries the name and wears it so well.
You are my precious, sweet Tessie. You are uniquely YOU. So often as my mini-me and as Britt’s little sister you hear from people the ways in which you are like us…but you are your own person. You’re beautiful like Tess. You’re so smart like Tess. You’re so kind like Tess.
While I love the ways in which you and I are similar, I always want you to know that you are loved just as you are – just for who you are! I love the ways in which you are unique and that God designed you to be so special.
It is such an incredible blessing to have an entire decade of YOU in the world! It feels like it was just yesterday that we were at the hospital and your big brother introduced you as “Tessley Fabreze” and proceeded to give you the nickname “Tessie” (which you thought was your actual name for several years).
But now, you’re 10. Double digits! All ten fingers. After this you can no longer count your age on your hands!
Ten is a big deal. It’s a big milestone age. Moving away from the little kid stage and entering the tween era. In the coming years you’ll face many changes. In your body. In your friendships. In your perspective of the world and your place in it.
The transition from pre-teen to teen years is exciting and fun. More independence and responsibility. More understanding of who you are and ideas of who you want to be.
Yes, change is hard and often scary. But there is so much to look forward to! You have so many lessons to learn and life to live. It’s such an amazing gift to get to experience it all with you, my baby girl.
I’m sure that every letter I’ve written you talks about the joy you are, you bring, and you spread to others. I pray you always see that joy as a gift and not a burden. Jesus was all about love but He also had boundaries. We can be kind and spread joy and still say no. We can stand firm in our convictions and still be nice.
I pray you’re able to hold onto your natural kind and giving spirit without it being tainted or twisted into an impulse to be a “people pleaser.”
Everyone you meet is quick to comment on your kind heart. It’s a natural gift you have and you use so beautifully to meet others where they are and love them through any experience they may be facing. It’s an amazing quality and my goal as your mom is to help you continue to grow in this gift while keeping Satan away from attacking it!
So often kindness gets morphed into people pleasing, but I have been so impressed with your ability to balance it so beautifully. You are not afraid to stand up for yourself. You know what you want (and don’t!) and don’t hesitate to speak your mind.
It’s been so awesome to see you grow in this way this year! You don’t let others walk on you or take advantage of your kindness. You are strong, and fierce and bold all while doing in with tenderness and gentleness.
I’m in awe of this ability – you inspire me to be a better person!
Life with you is so fun. You are easy-going, always up for an adventure and always make any activity better just by you being there!
I tell all four of my kids to always strive to “add to.” You want to be the kind of person that people look forward to seeing and are happy to hear you’re going to be there. The goal is to “add to” the vibe not “take away from.”
You have always been an add-to person. Even when you were little you were able to tag along to whatever bigger kid activity we had going on. You are flexible – I always think of how you’d fall asleep on the go at Disney World!
You have such a spunky personality and it brings added happiness, fun and joy to every circumstance. You have a natural talent to “read the room” and respond to it in the ways in which fit the current vibe.
My little empath – you feel the energy from others and have this gift to say just what needs to be said at exactly the right time.
Either a joke to lighten the mood, a pat on the shoulder to offer comfort, a kind word to lift a spirit.
One of my favorite things that I miss from when you were a baby was the way you would put your sweet hand on my chest during nursing sessions.
Occasionally, you’ll see me overthinking or stuck in a rut and will simply come over and place your hand on my chest. It’s always at the perfect time and is a personal touch that says how much love we share as mother and dear daughter.
I love our talks. And by our talks, I mean a lot of me listening. You love to share alllll about each moment of your school day. Down to the littlest details!
You are a great friend. You make friends wherever you go (pretty sure they compete for the title of “best friend”) and are well-liked by your peers and teachers. You enjoy school, never complaining about going (but also happy for a skip day!).
Academics seem to come easy for you, but you also take it seriously. You don’t just rely on your brain – you study, are a hard worker and put in the efforts to achieve the grades you want to have (all A’s, naturally).
While you miss having Britt at school with you, you’ve really enjoyed the perks of having home schooled siblings as Kye and Britt have been able to attend so many of your school functions this year.
I think it’s been really great for you to be one of the “big kids” at school and to allow you that special attention, separate from your siblings.
You and Britt continue to share such a special bond that I pray lasts for your entire lives. We went through a lot of changes this year – the move was a biggie and it was tough on us all in different ways.
It was hard leaving the home you were born in and have only ever known but you have adjusted beautifully.
You still enjoy sleeping in Britt’s bed but LOVE your new bedroom too – Daddy built you another version of your treehouse bed but this time it gets great airflow so it doesn’t get so hot 😉
The older you get, the more sure of yourself you become and it has been a positive change in your relationships. While it doesn’t always feel like it – and has caused a bit more bickering – it is SO great that you communicate what you want, need, and enjoy.
Tess has a voice too! And she’s not afraid to use it!
Along with your voice you have opinions and offer such wisdom at times that is much beyond your years. I have had a Barbie collection for decades and all the dolls are in pristine condition in the box.
You noticed the boxes during the move and asked me about them. You were shocked that I had owned them for 30+ years but never played with them. You encouraged ME to open ’em up and ENJOY them.
Life is meant to be lived and ENJOYED. Not preserved to be covered in dust.
Quality time is your love language and I think as the third kid you especially cherish opportunities to have one on one time with each of us.
We do a family quality time where we divide up and each person is paired with one other person in the family and each “couple” has an hour (or more) of quality time together. You love this!
I like to give each of y’all a special gift at Christmas and I had THE hardest time figuring out what to gift you. You are a lover of alllll things but don’t have a specific thing you’re “into.”
Kye has video games, Britt has Harry Potter, but we all say that you are just a VIBE. A gift will be something that just makes me think of you!
I decided to gift you with a night of quality Mommy time. You said it was your favorite gift EVER. We went shopping, at Chick-Fil-A (your favvvv), wore matching PJS, did our nails, ate snacks in my bed, watched Little Women, and had a sleepover. It was the best day!
It filled your love tank so full! If you’re reading this and have a serious boyfriend (or fiance or husband) remind him that you’re SUPER easy to please. Just give you some undivided attention and you overflow with appreciation and contentment!
It was such a special night and I’ve tried to be intentional in setting aside little pockets of quality time with you whenever I can (even just a quick errand or car ride!)
And if you’re reading this and feel like you and your mama haven’t had some solid quality time together in a while…tell me! I promise I want that time too and will welcome any opportunity to spend time with my sweet daughter with open arms.
Speaking of your future, you are thrilled to be a 5th grader this upcoming school year. I know you’ll enjoy it so much and have so much fun!
Homeschooling is going very well so far with your siblings and it’s been such a positive experience for Britt that I assume you will most likely follow the same path when the time comes. But we’ll see!
I try very hard to parent each of my children as individuals and I hope you know in looking back on your childhood, that your mama did her best to meet you where you’re at and meet your specific needs and always was intentional in doing what I thought was best for you!
Beyond schooling, I can see you taking different paths. I think you’d be an excellent Christian Counselor but I know the only desire in your heart is to be a mama. Your dream job is to be a stay at home mom and I’m praying for your future husband that he will feel that same desire and have the drive and passion like Daddy has to make that a reality.
My ability to be home with y’all has been such a huge asset and blessing to our family and it’s such a huge honor to me that you have the same plan for your future family.
You are going to be the most amazing mommy ever!
I pray the Lord gifts me with the time on this earth to walk alongside you on your motherhood path. We have a plan for me to live to 100 and you to be 70 and us to celebrate at Disney World together before I go to Heaven 😉
I am so proud of your Christian walk and spiritual growth. You sit next to me during worship services and you write down EVERYTHING.
You should be the official note-keeper of the congregation. You have notebooks filled with all the details of each worship service. You take it very seriously and even color coordinate.
I know as you enter the tween years the days of sitting by your mama in services are probably limited. Kye and Britt both love sitting with their friends.
I soak up hearing your sweet voice singing the hymns, our little glances and nudges when Mr Drew makes an awesome point (or when one of us messes up on a song), and your snuggles!
You have a natural beauty on the outside, but especially within. Your light truly shines so bright for the Lord and I know you’ll help lead others to Him by your Godly example and desire to continue drawing closer to Him through His Word.
This year was such a fun year for trips. We really kicked it off with an epic 9th Birthday Celebration at Disney. Aunt Courtney’s crew was able to come and be there when you got your ears pierced.
We had several other Disney trips this year with my little princess and it continues to be such a Magical, fun-filled place for us to enjoy and experience as a family.
One of our favorite traditions is our girls trip in May! It is always so fun experiencing the parks just the three of us.
Having daughters is such a gift in my life – I know the three of us will always have each other and that our bonds only strengthen as you girls grow up!
We already have such a close relationship and you are both young girls so I can only imagine how close we will all be when you’re a young woman and eventually an adult.
When it’s us three, it’s always EASY. We all just click and go with the flow and are down for whatever!
We also went to Mexico this year and had a blast. You cracked us up with “Mr Business” and “peacock called it” and your dance performance with Spear on the stage with the kids club is one none of us will ever forget.
From shopping trips (“this is cute!” on repeat) to movie watching (popcorn remains your fav) to staying up as late as possible to exhaustion-filled laughter fits – life with you is just so fun. You’re an amazing daughter!
While FUN is a big emphasis in our lives, life is not always fun. I know you will face heartbreaks. Hardships. Rock you to your core kinda moments.
And when those times come? You can stand firm on your foundation in Christ’s love for you. And you can stand firm in knowing you’ll have your mommy right beside you.
Whatever life throws your way please, please always know I’m here.
I am far from perfect. I have lived my life striving to be a positive role model in your life but I’ve made many mistakes.
Please know I’m an open book and you can always come to me and talk. Share your heart. I promise to listen, to take accountability when needed and to always be striving to grow and learn and be better tomorrow than I am today!
Forever and always, I am unconditionally loving you. Always rooting for you. Here to support you. In each stage of life – you’ve always got me!
I am excited for your big year of turning 10! Entering 5th grade, then middle school years. The trips we have planned. The adventures we’ll take.
Getting fully adjusted to our new home and taking time to make lasting memories together to truly make it ours.
Seeing you grow from a little girl to a young lady. Watching you continue to be such an awesome example (and “2nd mama”) to your little brother.
Listening to your stories, your silly songs, watching your epic dance moves.
Holding you when you cry and trying my best to help you navigate your sometimes overwhelmingly big feelings.
I delight in you and being your mom is one of the greatest privileges of my entire life and is a role that gives me joy every single day.
Being a mom to such a darling daughter, my little shining star, is the greatest gift. I hope you have a very happy birthday and that this new decade brings about a new chapter of growth, so much joy, big dreams, and great times.
I love you so much and am so proud of you. May God bless you with much happiness and may you feel loved and celebrated in the best way today and in the whole year ahead!
Happy Birthday Wishes to my incredible daughter. With love,
Mommy xoxoxox
You can read past birthday letters I’ve written to Tess throughout the years here:
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