I've realized that other things don't matter as much anymore, such as planning things perfectly or getting everything done in a day. I feel less important than ever but simultaneously more important because I realize how big of a responsibility it is to be a parent. I think about all the things I want to teach you.
Both your Daddy and I share a love for the game of golf. The sport has taught me so many values, such as sportsmanship, how to win and how to lose with grace. Hard work, humility, etiquette, manners, honesty, perseverance. So many life skills that I hope you will learn because life is not always easy or fair.
I wish I could protect you forever. But at some point I know you will be faced with adversity. I've dealt with a fair share of it myself. Someday you will hear about how I have a rod and five screws in my back, and that, for seven and a half years when I was a little girl, I had to wear a back brace all day, every day, even when I was sleeping. I could only take it off to play golf. I hated that experience. It was grueling mentally, physically, emotionally, but it really forged me into who I am today. I'm better when my back is to the wall. I hope my example teaches you to find a way to embrace adversity in your life and turn it into a positive.
Being a parent is such a humbling thing. It makes you realize nobody has it all figured out. I find myself more amazed than ever by all the working moms out there juggling, doing the best they can to "have it all." I couldn't do any of this without a strong support system. My mom (Nina, as the grandkids call her) has been a lifesaver in more ways than one. Without my mom and your dad, I'd be lost. I've also found support in unexpected places, too -- from people in the grocery store, to CEOs on the golf course.
This year, there's a baby boom on the LPGA Tour. For a long period, the tour kept getting younger and younger, and the number of moms competing began to dwindle with each season. But, now, there are 11 moms on the LPGA Tour with seven babies being born last year and three more on the way. There's something special about being pregnant at the same time as good friends and competitors. I'm so thankful to share all the "firsts" and learn the ropes with the other new moms on tour.