This is easy for me, so buckle up, Cowboys, cause I’ve got something to say!
Dear 13-year-old Bella,
13 is the first of many awkward years to come but know this one thing, One day, you will be surrounded by people that will breathe life into your existence. God will give you the strength and courage to be exactly who and what you want to be. You will have all the tools and knowledge to get you straight to the top.
Next year you’re going to meet someone that will make your already awful situation even more chaotic; someone should’ve told you to run, but they didn’t. The experience with that relationship will haunt you for years, but then you will use that devastating experience for your good.
Hold on, dear Bella
This will pass
This will pass
This will pass
Everything that I wanted to tell myself, I’m giving that to my now 13-year-old baby girl.
Dear Baby Girl,
You are everything I wanted to be and dreamed of being. Sweet girl, you are the hope I longed for, The courage I prayed for, And I thank God you are in my life, and I am in yours. As long as there is breath in my body, I will never leave your side. Noone and nothing will prevent me from being the person you need me to be.
There will be days that you won’t feel brave, but know that you are.
There will be people that tell you your dreams are too big but know that they don’t know you or what you’re capable of.
There will be moments when bad news is delivered to you; give it to God and have faith that he will carry you through.
On good days and bad days, praise God.
Today you are 13, and I pray that God continues to bless, guide, and protect you all the days of your life. Happy Birthday my everything girl.
You could have chosen any blog to read, but you chose mine, and I’m honored!
~Belladonna~


What a brilliant idea to look back at a formative age from today’s perspective.
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Thank you Suzette! With my daughter turning 13 today so much emotion came over me.
Thank you so much for commenting my friend💜
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Happy Birthday to your daughter. 🎊
Blessings.
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Thank you so much Suzette! Do you have any words that you would tell 23 year old Suzette?
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Yes, I do. To my 23 year old self: “Work hard, trust your instincts, fight for what you believe is right.” 👍
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Amen Suzette!!!! Amen! Thank you for sharing that.
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My pleasure 🙏
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💜💜
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Happy 13th birthday to your daughter. What a beautiful post. Love the sound and comforting advice . Wonderful . Enjoy her special day.💕
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Thank you Grace!!!! She is so happy to be a teenager 😍
Any words come to mind as to what you would tell your 13 year old self?
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I’m sure. They get so excited meanwhile we become nostalgic.🤣🤣🤣
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Exactly!!!!! LOL
The whole time I’m thinking what the heck did IO get myslef into it! LOL
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I could imagine💕🤣💕
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😂😂😂
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I would tell my 13 year old self to enjoy my youth and try not to grow up too fast.💕
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Amen!!!!! Grace how true is that. I was so guilty of that.
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I can totally relate.🤣🤣🤣
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Geesh 🤦🏽♀️😂
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Happy B-day ‘Baby Girl!’ Many blessings and many, many more💕
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Thank you Tam!!!
What would you tell 13 year old Tam?
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Oh My! You’ve put pressure on me, Belladonna☺️ Well, I have two daughters, 29 and 21 and I’ve always taught them to be lady-like and to care for themselves, both inside and out. My mother used to say, ‘Your head has to be used for more than just a decoration!’ In other words, you will need education, (spiritual) wisdom, and knowledge to balance out all of that beauty, so that others don’t dominate you and control your destiny!
Keep God on the throne of your heart- not men/boys…And Know Your Word, so that man’s lies are revealed in His Light!!
My oldest daughter is still finding her way(I’m still praying), but my ‘baby girl’ is in her 3rd year at the University, and I couldn’t be prouder💕
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Tam YOU ARE PREACHING!!!!! I felt every word of that. Good job to you momma, your daughters are in good hands. Sometimes it takes us a while to find our way but as long as we have prayer warriors we will be okay!
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Amen, Sis💕
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💗💗
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Happy Birthday! To you and your beautiful daugther. Yes, I said to you too! It is not easy to be a mother, less a wonderful mother like you are, Belladonna. Your words are full of love, the best present for your beautiful girl. Congratulations! Enjoy!
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Thank you so much for saying that Elvira!! She makes being a mom very easy😍😍😍😍
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You are welcome, Belladonna.
A pleasure! I can imagine, so cute.
That’s wonderful! 🙏😍😍😍😍
Enjoy with her!
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We had a blast Elvira 💗💗💗💗
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Great! I am so happy for you 💖💖💖💖🙏
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😊 Thank you
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☺️You are welcome
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Beautiful post, Belladonna. The pairing of the letter to your younger self with a letter to your daughter… love it! 💞 Happy Birthday to her! 🌻
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Thank you so much!!!! 💜💖
What would you tell 13 year old Michele?
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You are welcome, Belladonna. I actually wrote a letter a few years ago to my 16-year-old self. It was a powerful exercise. One I would rather keep private. 🙏🏻💗😊
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Oh wow! I love the thought of that. I bet it was so freeing Michele.
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Absolutely, yes. An emotional experience. 🙏🏻🤗
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💜💜 I know you are better for it!!!!
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💗🤗💗🤗
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Happy birthday to your 13 year old. It’s a tough time and I’m glad you’re giving her what she needs the most.
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I’m praying I did! She’s a pretty amazing kid and I learn so much from her. 😍
What would you tell 13 year old Sadje?
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I think I’d advise her not to be so sensitive to people around her. It took me years to develop a thicker skin.
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Oh Sadje that’s a good one!!! I was the same way.
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I’m glad that I changed.
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Absolutely!!!!!😍
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💖
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Happy birthday to your daughter!
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😍😍😍Thank you so much!
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The big mystery: would we even listen to our older selves at 13?! 🤔
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Now that’s a great point. I like to think so but 🤦🏽♀️
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Hope that you all have a great day! Wishing her much joy for the next 13 years and beyond
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Amen!!! Thank you!!!
What would you tell 13 year old you?
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You are most welcome!!
Hmm, I think it would have to be “Do not be so stubborn that you lose sight of what is most important” Of course, the 13 year old me would have scoffed at that arghh 😉
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Great advice and if a 13 year old listened too that, they would be off to one incredible start in life.
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Yay! 13 was a great age for me. I hope the young one has such a wonderful new year of age ahead. Happy Happy Happy Birthday!
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Thank you Tre!!! She’s having a ball just saying I’m a teenager now 😂
What would you tell 13 year old Tre?
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You’re welcome!
I would tell my 13-year-old self, “Listen to those who have your best intentions at heart.”
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Tre!!!!! That is the truth. I knew you would be on point girl!
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Haha. Thank you!
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💜💜
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Ahh, I love her so much!! ❤ ❤
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You’re her idol…for good reason💜💝💜💝💃🏽🙌🏽
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Happy HAPPY Birthday. Blessings always and I wish you miracles
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Thank you Selma!!! Do you have any words to share about what you would say to 13 year old you?
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Happy Birthday to your daughter. For me 13 was a lousy age, but don’t tell her that. My advice to myself back then would be something along the lines of “the cake is a lie.”
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Thank you!!!
😂💝😂😂😂😂😂😂 okay I have to know more!!!
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My teenage years were stressful beyond acne and hair disasters. Too many funerals, too much time left on my own to cope, too many frustrations that come with living in a small town. For me things weren’t all that rosy as a teenager, like I’d been promised. [Sorry you asked?]
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I am so glad I asked! It’s unfortunate that we can’t all experience the “ideal” childhood. Your words resonates with me. Huge hug comig at you!!!!!!
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[Just realized you may not have been asking me for the specifics of my life and instead wanted to know what “the cake is a lie” means. It’s a saying from the game Portal. It means that the promised gift which is supposed to be motivation is really a ruse. And now I’ll be quiet.]
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That background info put this phrase to life for me. I totally get it!!!! 🥹
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Great motherly and wise advice Belladonna. We need more coming of age conversations like this with our daughters and sons. Thirteen is an interesting crossover event because you now have officially entered “Teenkingdom.” Praying that your words and lessons penetrate deeply and even moreso, that when your daughter has questions or challenges, she can come to you or your husband to get help and not be judged for it. Have a FANtabulous weekend girlfriend. 😎💋🤩🦋😍💖🤗💐
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Thanks Kym!! Yes this year is quite the crossover and I think my girl is ready to go 😍
Now what would you tell 13 year old Kym?
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So much to tell and so little time to tell it girlfriend! 😜 I wish we were able to openly ask about what to expect when we encounter certain experiences at that age, but I think even now Belladonna, we had to learn as we grew up, and sista’, I’m still learning!!! 👩🏽🏫👩🏽🎓🙆🏽♀️
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Kym!!!!!! Go is still working on me. Like you said we learn aas we go.
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Indeed Belladonna! Indeed! 🤗🙏🏼😊
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That is a beautiful letter. What a precious idea. Sending hugs 🤗 and love, Joni
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Thank you Joni! Here turning 13 brought out so many emotions for me.
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I can appreciate that and thought the writing was a beautiful thing to do. Blessings to you my friend. 🦋
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I appreciate that Joni! 💖😊🙌🏽💖
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Big hugs and love, Joni
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💝💖
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🦋❤️🤗🌹
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