Dear future daughter

Hayley, 

I used to hope that you would climb the tallest trees

Fall down and laugh

Come home with scraped knees

You'd play with momma's old dolls

Dress up and Nana's old shawls

Have two best friends

And play pretend 

I used to. 

Hayley,

When it's 2065 

And you haven't opened your eyes,

Please don't blame momma.

See, momma don't want you

To grow up like I do

Momma's trying to protect you

From #metoo

Hayley, 

I hope I have all boys

So I don't have to worry every night 

When they sneak out

If they're really alright

I don't want you to carry pepperspray

To keep your boyfriend at bay

It don't even work that way!

See, sometimes, they have a gun.

Hayley, I wish I could make you feel classy

When a boy calls you trashy 

Because he projected his worth onto you

But I can't.

And I love you. 

So I have to realize:

You can't have your cake

And eat it too.

Love, 

Momma