Promises to Demorris

When we first found out we were pregnant, Ash and I rushed off to Borders to buy as many books as possible. We didn't know much about being parents, but we knew that we wanted to be better parents than the best parents we knew. We headed to the back of the store to the books describing the various stages of pregnancy. Ash picked up the book "I know my boys can swim" and smiled proudly and started the pile of books. We picked up "What to Expect When You're Expecting" along with a belly journal to keep track of my soon-to-be growing belly, and then I came across a book by Deepak Chopra's daughter Malika. It was called 100 promises to my baby. I immediately started to tear up just thinking about the promises Ash and I would make to our baby. Here's a list of some of the promises I've already shared with Demorris.

1. I promise to continue to make the world a better place for you. When your dad and I went door-to-door for President Obama every weekend back in October and September and then again on election day, we were thinking about you and how we wanted our children to look at the most powerful man in the world and see themselves.

2. I promise to show you how to love yourself and someone else by loving your dad, you and myself. Your dad and I spend lots of time these days talking about the love we already feel for you. We try to share it with you every day, but we can't wait until you're sitting on the couch with us to share it with you.

3. I promise to love you even when I disagree with how you choose to live your life. We don't care who you love or what you do with your life as long as you live out your dreams, surround yourself with people who love you and work to your full potential.

4. I promise to show you the world. We already have tentative plans to travel to South Africa when you're two years old, but if that doesn't work out we'll make sure to bring you on tour and wherever else we travel. Seeing new places and meeting people that are different than you are going to be important to the person you become. The more people you know that are different than you the more tolerant and understanding you'll become.

5. I promise not to influence the way you feel about your relatives. Of course I have my favorites, but I know how important it is for you to have loving relationships with adults beyond just your dad and me. I know sometimes it will be hard for me to not to assert my feelings for other people on you, but I promise to let you love who you love.

6. I promise to give you space to become the man you're meant to be. But that doesn't mean I won't be here to hug you and catch you if you fall. It just means I'll give you the space to fall when you need to or to soar away from my arms.

7. I promise to encourage you to spend time with your dad. I've seen how important relationships with your parents are, and I know how very much your dad loves you already. He talks to you daily and can't wait to meet you. I promise not to be jealous if you're closer to him, but to encourage you to have a great relationship with him.

8. I promise not to let you be a Republican.

9. I promise to continue to follow my own dreams. It's easy to only think about my world in the context of being your mom, but I want you to know that I will continue to follow my own dreams and desires. I know that only when I'm at my best will I be able to be a good mom to you.

10. I promise to always love your dad. No matter what happens in life, I want you to always know that you were created out pure love between your father and me. I never want you to look at us and wonder about the love we felt for each other when we brought you into the world.

11. I promise to listen to you. I know you're going to have lots of ideas, and I want you to know that what you think is important to me. I never want you to feel like I don't take your thoughts or ideas seriously.

12. I promise to let you show the world who you are. It'll be tough not to show you off to the world, but I promise to give you the encouragement and support you need to go off and show the world what you're made of.

13. I promise to look at the world with the same wonder and awe as you do. I know you're going to see miracles in things I take for granted, and I can't wait to rediscover the world with you.

14. I promise to love you. Just pure and simple. No strings. No matter what.