My daughter turned 21 last Sunday. Over the last couple of months I have gathered several quotes to mark this occasion. Quotes that characterise her, quotes to give her advice for the future, quotes about my feelings about her growing up so fast…

Dear Charlotte… my little girl…

How time has flown by… Perhaps I don’t say it enough (I just know you’d find that way too cheesy!), but I am so proud of you! Our eldest child now 21…

You were sometimes quite a handful, but you turned out to be a beautiful, intelligent, caring, strong-willed, determined woman. You are ready to conquer the world… and I have no doubt you will!

Charlotte, this post is especially for you!

‘Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.’ – Jon Bon Jovi (oh how we all know how passionate you are about the things close to your heart…)

‘How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’ – A. A. Milne (and in the past years I have learned to say goodbye to you so many times… know that you will always have a home to come back to!)

‘And though she be but little, she is fierce.’ – Shakespeare

‘Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.’ – Marilyn Monroe (and no doubt you will!)

‘Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you.’ – unknown (and you go for your dreams with such determination… every single time! You go girl…)

‘Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.’ – Anne Frank (here’s another piece of good advice: will you please read that diary from Anne Frank?!)

‘Believe in your strength and go for it.’ – Diane Von Furstenberg

‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.’ – Jane Austen (This truly could be a quote from you… but no… it’s one from Jane Austen… And secretly I am so proud of myself to have taught you the love for Jane Austen and I just know you will have a library one day… you’re halfway there already!)

‘So many books, so little time.’ – Frank Zappa (Yip, another one about books… because your life wouldn’t be the same without hem! And this quote is spot on… still so many unread books on your bookshelves, but even though you’re so busy, you’re always able to squeeze in some reading time!)

‘She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful deep down to her soul.’ – F. Scott Fitzgerald

‘When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.’ – Marianne Williamson (I hope that my light gave you permission to do the same… shine on you crazy diamond!!)

‘They might not need me, but they might. I’ll let my head be just in sight, a smile as small as mine, might be precisely their necessity.’ – Emily Dickinson (my overall feeling about you, but also about your brother and sister… please remember that I am always there for you… when you need me… and even more so for when you think you don’t…)

‘Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back and reasons to stay.’ – Dalai Lama (I know you will fly away… but I hope those roots are strong enough to come back!)

Charlotte, I want to wish you all the best in your adult life and remember that I am always here for you with open arms.

Love, mum.

x