Dear Kaylee,

That fight with mom, you know the one I’m talking about, where you told her you hated her and slammed your bedroom door shut and now she's locked herself in her room because she was so upset, it will be OK. Just give her time because she loves you with everything in her. She’s your best friend, you just don’t know it yet.

I know you're young and you want to hang out in the cool crowd, but I am telling you it's OK to say no. I mean, hey, it was pretty cool to feel like you meant something to someone you considered a friend, but they will get you in trouble. You'll feel like you have to steal a beer from your friend's dad to look cool in front of an older guy, but the first sip will make you feel sick. Then mom will find out and you'll get grounded.

You don’t need to write those secret love letters to the boy you like, because it wont matter after summer is over and he has a new girlfriend. You won’t need to degrade yourself, eventually falling into depression because you think no one likes you. A lot of great people out there do love you, you just have to open yourself up to them.

When you do get asked out by a boy, say yes and embrace it, but don’t think you have to do anything for him because you break up anyway. Do not, and I mean do not not let him push you into something you don't want to do with him. Mom taught you better, and you'll feel better in the end when you don't. You'll love and be loved and thats a magical feeling, but please remember, you have your whole life in front of you. Please take those moments and cherish them, before you forget the feeling.

You're going to lose amazing people when they have to fly back home, after only a year of knowing them. There’s going to be a girl that lives in the guest room for a year and she's going to turn into the best big sister you never had and when she leaves you’ll feel a piece of your heart being taken away but you can still keep in touch. FaceTime with her because you’ll regret it when you don’t. You and mom will have late night crying sessions missing her because was truly apart of your family.

Before I end this letter to you, I want you to know that you're going to cry so hard you throw up, and laugh so hard you start to cry. You are going to lose friends because of petty drama and hormones clouding your judgement, but you’ll also gain amazing friends that you love so much you’ll take a bullet for them. So say sorry to mom for all of the attitude you're going to give through the years. You will learn to love yourself, you just have to give it time.

Sincerely,

Kaylee

P.S. Please stay away from Nat’s makeup because she is way tanner than you and you will look orange. Trust me, I’ve been there.