For the Daughters — Crystal Craig Photography

For the Daughters Who Choose Themselves

—a mother’s prayer for her daughter, and every daughter,

By Crystal Craig

I see you.

Not the polished version they asked for,

not the quiet girl who made herself small to be safe.

I see the wild truth of you—

the one who says yes only when she means it,

the one who has learned to walk away

when her soul whispers,

Not this. Not anymore.

You chose the harder path—

the one that split open comfort,

upended the tidy story,

and left you standing in the rubble

with nothing but your own heartbeat to follow.

That is not failure.

That is becoming.

I want you to know

how proud I am

that you didn’t trade your fire

for approval,

that you didn’t let their fear

become your map.

You are not here to play small,

to contort into roles that starve your spirit,

or perform joy for a world

that never learned to make room

for a woman who says,

I deserve more.

No daughter of mine

will be taught to settle

for numbness dressed as peace.

This is my wish—

for you,

for your daughters,

for all daughters:

May you be messier than they expect.

More radiant than they can contain.

More whole than they ever imagined possible.