Things I want my Daughters to Know

When I first saw this book, I was captivated by the title itself. Then I read the synopsis, and I was all the more tempted to buy it. Well, I finally did.



How do you cope in a world without your mother? When Barbara realizes time is running out, she writes letters to her four daughters, aware that they'll be facing the trials and triumphs of life without her at their side. But how can she leave them when they still have so much growing up to do? Take Lisa, in her midthirties but incapable of making a commitment; or Jennifer, trapped in a stale marriage and buttoned up so tight she could burst. Twentysomething Amanda, the traveler, has always distanced herself from the rest of the family; and then there's Hannah, a teenage girl on the verge of womanhood about to be parted from the mother she adores. But by drawing on the wisdom in Barbara's letters, the girls might just find a way to cope with their loss. And in coming to terms with their bereavement, can they also set themselves free to enjoy their lives with all the passion and love each deserves? This heartfelt novel by bestselling author Elizabeth Noble celebrates family, friends… and the glorious, endless possibilities of life.

What would you like to tell your daughter? What do you wish you could tell – or have told – your mother before it's too late?

This book reminds me of the emails that I wrote for my daughters. I started with my pregnancy journals before they were born, and then I moved on to blog about their childhood. Even though the blog was created by my husband, I was the one who maintained it till now. Apart from that, I also write emails to them, sharing with them on things that were more personal, or things that the rest wouldn’t care much. Initially, I made it a point to write at least once a month, but now the interval was somehow dragged further apart. Still, I have managed to write to them on special occasions, which I intend to carry on. If you’re wondering why I wrote to them, then maybe you can ask yourself this question – why do you take photos or videos of your children? Instead of capturing the expressions and the moments, I find that a lot of things couldn’t be captured by photos or videos alone. Thoughts, especially, is one of them.

Even though this is a fiction, the contents that it is trying to bring up, is very real. It tells of a dying mother (haha, yes, again on such topic – to which I have been chided by hubby for my reading selection lately), who has been diagnosed of cancer. She left behind 4 daughters, and a husband who was the stepfather to her 3 elder daughters, but the real father to the youngest one. Because she knew that she won't be around anymore when her daughters are growing up and needed advice, she started to write journals for each of them, hoping that these journals would somehow soothe them and guide them when they needed her most. A very inspiring story that covers a broad perspective, and many scenarios, I’d say.

A mother, no matter how highly the children look up to, is never without flaws. This is strongly pointed out in the novel. They later learnt not to focus on the flaws, but rather, how it has made them stronger, by learning how to overcome it and making the best out of it. Of course, a father’s role is also very important, which was very well brought up by the author. But the essence of the book lies in the journals which the mother wrote, for each one of them, so that they wouldn’t fall apart when she’s gone.

After reading this novel, I’m all the more determined to continue my tradition of email writing to my girls. So, do you have anything that you’d like your daughters, sons, or loved ones to know before it’s too late?