Things I Want My Daughter to Know (a list in progress):

1. Calculus. Single variable fine - but you should be able to integrate a few simple functions, even if you decide you want to be a painter or a diplomat or whatever.

2. People are going to judge you for your appearances. You don't have to care, but I would be a bad mother if I allowed you to believe otherwise. Plan accordingly.

2a. Get in the habit of hanging and folding your clothes. And learn to iron.

3. Good posture will improve even the crappiest outlook. Stand tall and breathe from your core.

4. You don't have to like everyone you meet, so don't take it personally if not everyone you meet likes you.

5. If you don't have anything nice to say, say nothing. Words spoken are like any other commodity - the more of them there are, the less value they have. Tis better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Those who know don't talk, those who talk don't know... Etc etc ad infinitum.

5a. Never put anything in writing that you wouldn't want read aloud to you by a judge.

6. Exercise is your friend.

7. Humor opens more doors than money.

8. If somebody in a big hurry asks you to "hold this for me really quickly," always say no. Even if it's somebody you know really well.

8a. Address all police officers as "Sir" or "Ma'am" and politely decline to discuss anything with them (the weather, your favorite color, anything) without an attorney present.

9. "Please" and "Thank You" are extremely useful phrases. Incorporate them into your vocabulary early and often!

10. Having a goal makes everything easier. Unfortunately, I can offer no insight into how to obtain a goal - for me it has always been an automatic process. I hope you are so blessed. This is not the case for everyone.

11. Avoid like the plague people who won't take "No" for an answer (unless they are trying to hire you).

12. You may someday be brilliant and beautiful and talented! But even if you are, nobody owes you anything. Humility and hard work are necessary for durable success.

12a. You are your own best advocate. Learn to value your skills accurately, accept praise gracefully, seek promotion actively, and undertake challenges equal to your ambition.

12b. Occasionally a teacher, peer or employer will totally gut what you thought was the accurate valuation of your skill. Accept this gracefully too. Failure is opportunity.

13. Real food doesn't have cartoons on the packaging. In fact, the less packaging the better.

14. Little girl, you are going to grow up to be a woman. There are people out there who will hold keys or purse-strings who will expect you to be obliging, and nice, and easy to manipulate. Who will assume that you are not-so-capable, or attempt to intimidate you. Recognize that this is a weakness of theirs, not of yours - don't let it concern you. Instead, give the bastards enough rope to hang themselves (see 12a).