In Honor of 37 Weeks

So I have now given in and joined the blogosphere. You will soon be able to see updates of the precious Ella, coming soon to a hospital near you.

I haven't thought much about what it will be like to have a baby girl. Instead I keep thinking of my daughter as an adult, wondering who she will turn out to be. There is so much heartache that I want to spare her from. But that heartache is what will make her a genuine gal. So I started thinking about all the things I want to teach her. Here is a very short list. It's not your typical list. Of course I want her to be caring, loving, thoughtful, etc, etc. But these are things I learned from my as well as other's mistakes. I do realize with some of these I may end up eating my words one day.

1. Listen to your mother...she is almost always right. Especially in high school.
2. Protect your reputation. It is your most precious asset.
3. In high school and college don't listen to boys. They are mainly full of crap.
4. Study hard in high school and don't take the social part too seriously. Save the partying for college...it's waaay better!
5. If you respect yourself, others will too.
6. There is a Prince Charming out there. Don't worry, you'll find him. Or in my case, he will find you.
6. Make a point to keep in touch with your real girlfriends as you get older. You'll know who they are.
7. Don't make excuses for the worthless guy your with. Dump his ass!
8. You'll always be Daddy's little girl. Rub it in his face :)
9. Don't take your siblings for granted. Yes, even when they are taking all the time they want in the bathroom.
10. Try really hard to not give a crap sometimes. Or befriend someone who has mastered this. You will be amazed at how happy they are.
11. Accept that most people will change the longer you know them. And sometimes you won't like who they become. Don't be afraid to cut your losses.
12. Don't be afraid to take a bad picture. These are often the ones that will make you laugh hysterically years later.
13. Some people are like slinkies. They're not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.
14. Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
15. Be open minded and stay in the center of the road. Nothing is pretty in extremes.
16. If you think in gray terms, have friends who think in black and white. They will keep you level.
17. It's ok to marry someone who doesn't think or act just like you. Balancing each other out is the best part.
18. It's ok to go to bed mad at your husband.
19. Don't listen to the mass opinion on how to eat, sleep, live or love. It's always a changing fad.
20. Learn to recognize and avoid stupid people. They will always be there. (This is something your daddy taught me)
21. There will always be "that" girl at parties and bars. The super drunk one that everyone makes fun of. Try not to be her.
22. If you are looking for Mister Right, don't let him sample the goodies right away.
23. It's ok to look back and cringe at a mistake. As long as learned from them, those mistakes made you who you are today.
24. Do not get a credit card until you can handle the responsibility. This is probably not until after college.
25. Don't say anything to your parents that you might regret because you will regret it for life.
26. If you pick a celebrity as a role model, you will likely be screwed.
27. It's ok to be a princess sometimes. Just don't use all your princess points at once.
28. No matter how tired or drunk you may be, always wash your makeup off before you go to bed.
29. Use sunscreen on your face. That's what bronzer is for.
30. Marry someone who takes care of you. This is well demonstrated if he will repeatedly pick you and your girlfriends up from the bar because you are too drunk to drive home.