Dear Livia,
In May you had your first father-daughter dance. I didn’t know too much about such things, having never been to one myself, but I did know that a girl who’s going to a dance needs a dress. So, I took you to the mall.
While we were shopping, you told anyone who would listen that you were going to a ball. You always called it a “ball,” because that’s so much more dramatic, but then you tried to clarify by saying, “It’s also called a father-daughter dance.” For some reason, that only confused people. They thought you were going to two dances!
One dance was enough, and one dress was all we needed, but we had to go to five stores to find it! Once found, it was The Dress, and you adored it. You accessorized with a butterfly necklace and butterfly headband that you already owned. On the night of the dance, your father gave you flowers to wear. You were the Belle of the Ball.
As the mom, I didn’t get to go, but what I heard is that you enjoyed eating sweet treats all evening and walking barefoot along a window ledge in the high-school cafeteria, where the dance was held. I saw some pictures of the dance later, and I was relieved to see that I had dressed you properly. I don’t do everything right as a mom, but in this I did well. Not only did I got you your gear, but I also got you bathed, did your hair and nails, and helped you get dressed. Real mom stuff.
You were so pretty dressed up as you were. But you should also know that you always shine. It’s most obvious when you’re all decked out, but the shine is always there, no matter what you wear.
Love,
Mom