Growing up I always thought about having kids and often had a lot of questions about them. Did I want them? If I did want them, then how many? What would I name them? Where would I want to raise them? What would they be like? The list goes on. Despite having all these questions though, I never once questioned what kind of mother I would be. I knew I wanted to be the best mother possible, so to make sure I keep the values I'd always imagined I'd have as a mother, I decided to write them down.

To my future children, these are the things I can promise you:

I will love you unconditionally.

You won't have to be perfect. You won't have to play the sports your father or I did. You won't have to stay up late studying every night to impress me. I will love you no matter the grades you get or the after school activities you choose or don't choose to do. Just be you and I will love you endlessly.

I will do my best to make sure you don't struggle.

I will do everything in my power to give you the best and easiest life possible. I will make sure that we have the money for you to go on that school trip or go to the college you want. I will make sure our house and your clothes are nice enough that the kids at school won't bully you. I will stay up late helping you with projects or helping you study even if I have to be up at six for work. My most important job will be doing what I can to give you the best possible life, and I will.

I will be your friend and your mother.

I won't be the mom who lets your girlfriend/boyfriend spend the night at 14, but I will be the mom who will pick you up from a party at 2 am because you're too drunk to drive home. I want you to feel comfortable telling me anything, but I also need you to see me as an authority figure. We will work together to find the right balance between mom and friend.

I will hold your hand as long as you want me to.

There will never be a time that I won't be there for you if you want me to be. As your mom, it is my job to make you feel safe, always. I will go to doctor's appointments with you until you're 30 or tuck you into bed every night until you go to college. Whatever I need to do to make you feel secure, I will do. Don't you ever worry about that.

I will try my hardest to make you feel like you are enough.

I don't ever want you to feel like you aren't good enough to get the boy/girl you want or that really hard scholarship. I want you to know that you will always be enough as long as you try. I'll tell you every day that you are beautiful/handsome and smart and kind. I will do everything in my power to ensure you that you are more than enough because you will be.

And most importantly, you will be the best thing to ever happen to me.

You might cause me to lose sleep sometimes or make me late to an important meeting, but those little inconveniences won't even compare to the moments of pure joy you will give me. You will fill me with happiness every time you smile or laugh or hiccup or sneeze. And I know all this because now, even years before you are conceived, just the thought of you makes me grin.

I swear to you that I will do everything I promised above and so much more to keep you safe and happy. I cannot wait to meet you, Scarlett, Piper, Lyndon, Leo, or whatever I decide to name you all. You are my pride and joy, now and forever.