Dear Anak,

These past few days, thanks to work downtime, mas madalas tayong magkasama. Time spent with you is always a blessing to thank God for. Ang bilis kasi ng mga araw, ang bilis mo lumaki.

Figuratively speaking. This year you were less of a little kid than last year. Even in the way you converse-- mas complicated na ang mga questions mo, mas "adult" na ang logic at analogy mo. Last night at bedtime, sleepy-you said to me-- Mama, hug mo ako. AWWW. Nakakatunaw makarinig ng ganon mula sa iyo. Kasi hindi ko alam kung next year ganito ka pa rin. I so love you anak. I want to make the most of these days, na ganyan ka pa ka-expressive at ka-sweet. Na kasama pa ako sa sentro ng mundo mo.

Literally speaking, ang tangkad tangkad mo na! Knock on wood. 7 years old and I'm only a full head taller than you are. At the rate you're going, by the time you're 12, baka kasing laki na kita (at sana, sana sana, malampasan mo pa pati ang Papa mo!). Ayoko sanang maipasa sa yo ang fixation ko with height (another hangup! haha), pero I can't help expressing my joy whenever the topic is about you getting taller. Ayokong maipasa sa iyo ang prejudice ko pagdating sa height (huhuhu), pero di ko maiwasan na i-wish na sana paglaki mo maging mas matangkad ka pa kesa sa akin. Sana, sana. ang hirap kasi ng nakaheels at platform shoes palagi. Haha.

That doesn't mean taller=better. I know genetics has a large role in the height you're going to have as an adult, at kung sakali man na paglaki mo kasing-height mo ako, don't worry. Maganda ka naman. Matalino (pero di ko yun sinasabi sa yo, because growth mindset vs fixed mindset--- kahit di matalino ang tao sa isang bagay, o kahit di magsimulang mahusay sa isang bagay, they can perform better at something, if they work hard on it. people can grow to be better, hindi fixed yun). Mabait (more than most! We try our best not to spoil you!). And being small is sometimes an advantage. They underestimate you, in a way. Some people will actually be more solicitous and helpful towards you, and this will come in handy when you're carrying heavy luggage up a flight of stairs and someone will actually volunteer to help you carry them-- aww, she's too petite to carry all that, let me help her. See, sometimes you bring out the best in people when you're petite! Haha.

I wish I could instill in you the mindset of valuing yourself beyond your physical looks.

I wish you would grow up thinking that there is SO MUCH more to you than what you look like--- a good heart, a bright mind, an interesting personality.

Pero ang hirap, kasi ako mismo produkto ng isang generation where women are valued greatly for their physical looks. Feeling ko, hanggang ngayon, ganon pa rin. Even more so, in these social media times. Sana hindi ka matulad sa akin. Kahit anong conditioning ng nanay ko sa akin, in the end marami pa rin akong physical hangups. Before I met your Papa, I had believed I wasn't pretty enough to be loved. Which is BS, right? There are a lot more women then men who think that. "To find a man who will love you, you have to be pretty".  Well let me tell you-- your physical looks might attract men, but it's your personality, your character, your brains that will make them stay, that will make them fall in love with you.

So don't fret if you don't have supermodel looks (who knows, pagdating ng 20 years baka ikaw na ang definition ng supermodel, nagbabago bago din ang standards ng mga tao we never know), you are visually pleasing enough for anyone to want to have coffee with you (but be discriminating sa mga nagyayaya sa yong mag-kape--- baka ayain ka lang sumali sa networking! haha).  Finding a romantic partner, having a love life, is a complicated topic, pero bottom line is--- you are valuable, and you should know it. Don't let what others think about you become the measure of how much you value yourself. You are valuable, period.

Why? Because bata ka pa lang, napakabait mo na. You have such a gentle, loving, lovable temperament. Kahit mga magulang ng mga classmates mo, gusto ka. You are bright-- conversations with you will never be boring for people who appreciate good conversation. Ngayon pa lang, ang mga tanong mo, nakakatuwa. Naeenjoy ko ang mga pag-uusap natin. And you are pleasing to the eyes-- combine that with everything else, jackpot na ang future son-in-law ko (sana matagal pa anak, mga 20-25 years from now).

I just want you to grow up with a healthy perception of yourself. With a healthy self-esteem. You are valuable, anak. And I pray that you grow up knowing that, and not rely on other people's perceptions to see how valuable you are. You are valuable and lovable, you should know that in your heart.

So you're 7. And you constantly fear Math, pero 93 ang grade mo sa Math (kaloka ka. hindi ko nga yata naabot ang 93 sa math ever). I wish Math would become your friend til you grow up. Kasi kakailanganin mo sya.

Your 7th christmas with us. You wish for a bike, pero alam ko, hindi mo sya sobrang gustong gusto, kahit ano happy ka na. I'm happy to see that you're not fixated on material things. Fixated ka lang kay Pat and Gen, watching them do minecraft on Youtube. Okay na yun. I'm proud of how you are so far and I'm optimistic and fairly confident of the person you have yet to become. Basta ang pinakamahalaga, over achievement and success anak, is that you have a good heart--- sensitive sa kapwa mo tao, handang tumulong kapag kailangan, may enough integrity to do what is right and just even if everyone else is doing the contrary. And yes, courage. That's something we are working on. I don't know how to teach you that. Sana tulungan kami ni God na mapalaki ka namin to become a courageous, strong girl.