A Mother's Letter on Beauty, Education, and Becoming Yourself
In a letter to her daughter, a Cameroonian mother articulates a vision of beauty rooted in inner virtue rather than appearance, urges scholarly ambition without apology, and frames love and faith as conscious choices rather than overwhelming forces. She weaves together practical guidance on education, relationships, spirituality, and self-belief into a document that reads as both intimate counsel and a quiet manifesto for young women.
[NEW ENTRY] Awanto Margaret redefines beauty and gives some great advice on education and relationships in this amazing letter to her daughter.
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Read Margaret's Letter Below. Like and Share if you want her to win. _______________________________________________________________
Baby,
From your conception till now, you are the light that brightens my life - i hope you grow to do same for the world.
The day you came out of me; little and sweet and uttered a gentle cry only my arms could hush, i knew an angel had come into the world.
Your tiny fingers are fast growing, and you are gradually outgrowing your pink rompers which soothes you so well. I wish you didn't have to grow at this pace, but i am happy for you.
You see, mom is still very young and is yet to learn a lot from the world, and you, but here are a few things she'd love you to know and hold on to as you walk onwards, and upwards in life.
Baby, know that you are beautiful. Whole. Complete. Never forget that. Words such as "hot and sexy" should not particularly interest you. Never define beauty from anything as shallow as outer looks, but from inner virtues. Beauty baby, is being true yourself; it is loving yourself perfectly, it is kindness, respect and empathy. It is speaking your truth even if your voice shakes. Therefore, choose beauty every day of your life and focus on building worthy values. I talk first on beauty for it is one of the first things society will throw at you. Walk tall and strong, and let your steps balance themselves with equal amounts of confidence and flair. And if you must flaunt something, let that be good manners, kindness and love. You are Beautiful.
Your education baby is very important. Study hard and learn your lessons well. Never be afraid to ask or answer a question in class or top the class continuously in a row; it doesn't make you a weirdo or book nerd - it makes you smart. Treat every subject with equal importance, they may seem trivial at the moment, but will help form you into an all round knowledgeable person. Read books, a lot of them, and of every genre. There's immerse knowledge hidden in them.
Baby, you are holy (your body particularly). Pure. Regardless of the changes that will occur to it as you grow - periods, curves and all. These are all what make you unique and special - embrace them.
Baby *smiles heartily* what I'm going to say now is very delicate, i could write you a whole chapter on it, but for want of time, I'll tell you this. You would meet boys you like, have crush(es), fall in love and have heartbreaks. Those days would be a good time to talk to mom and dad. You would date when you come of age, with the permission of mom and dad. But if you do without my knowledge, ensure that the relationship is neither addictive nor abusive. Be expressive. Love truly and fully, and always look out for yourself. At a certain time, you may believe you have found your " happily ever after" , but baby, teenage love always hits as hard as harmattan, but also leaves fast. You'd quickly learn to let go and move on. As you grow older, you'd realize that love is far more than wanting to be around someone or liking someone, neither is it some feeling that leaves you helpless (though it may), but a conscious decision to choose someone over and over, not overlooking their flaws, but accepting them. Be strong, yet vulnerable enough to need love. Love yourself perfectly, and it'd be easier for you to find and give love.
Baby, know that there is a God and that he is good. Do not let yourself be bound by any religion, unless you totally believe in it. Be free spirited and open minded. If ever in doubt of whom to trust, take a look at the wonders of the earth and sky - see only their beauty, how they radiate in magnificence. If ever in doubt your religion's teachings, let kindness, love, generosity and tolerance be your religion. Obey the basic laws of nature and find peace within yourself.
Guard your dreams jealously. Know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Never let your gender be an excuse for you not being able to do something. Believe in yourself as much as you i believe in you. You will strive, thrive and blossom in life.
Baby, i have to go now, but not without telling you the best part, which is: Have Fun. Go out, make friends, play, watch cartoons, make mistakes, fall, break things, sleep off on the couch..etc. Have fun baby, be everything you can be, the world is yours to conquer.
We'll talk more as you grow
With love,
Mom.
This piece emerges from a Poise writing challenge inviting readers to share letters—a format that suggests a broader cultural conversation about intergenerational wisdom and the particular pressures facing young women in Cameroon navigating questions of beauty, achievement, and autonomy. The tone and specificity of concerns (periods, curves, harmattan heartbreak, parental permission for dating) root the letter firmly in a lived social context where these tensions are real and present.
The letter's enduring resonance lies in its refusal of easy answers and its insistence on nuance: beauty is redefined, but not denied; education is valorized, but tempered with permission to play; love is honored as important while stripped of its power to define a life. In 2017 and beyond, this quiet radicalism—a mother teaching her daughter to claim space, ask questions in class, trust her body, and think for herself—speaks to ongoing struggles over girls' agency and self-determination in contexts where such claims are still contested.