There are some #Holidays that bring us to our news and International Day of the Girl Child is one of those Holidays for me. I wanted to let you know why I’m sharing this holiday that happened on: October 11th which is a day recognized by the United Nations to bring attention to girls’ rights, education, safety, and opportunities.
The 2026 theme is “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.” Today, I’m sharing this because I am a mom who will always have a daughter, even though I can no longer hold her in my arms. Before I share my thoughts with you you can learn more here: United Nations — International Day of the Girl Child
With today being the International Day of the Girl Child,when I think about this day, I think about my daughter, Suzzane. Suzzane was born in 1988, and she was only 16 when her life here on earth ended in 2004. There are so many things a mother dreams of seeing her daughter do as she grows up. You imagine the birthdays, the graduations, the plans she will make, and the woman she will become. You never imagine having to learn how to live in a world without her.
I still think about Suzanne, the things she loved, and the future she should have had. I think about the little girl I raised and the young woman she was becoming. Being her mom is part of who I am, and that will never change. That is one reason days like this matter to me. They remind us that every girl is somebody’s daughter, somebody’s sister, somebody’s friend, and somebody with dreams of her own.
The United Nations established the International Day of the Girl Child in 2011, with the first observance taking place in 2012. October 11 is now recognized each year as a day to focus on the challenges girls face and to promote their rights and opportunities. Around the world, girls still face barriers to education, discrimination, violence, and pressure to marry before they are adults. The 2026 campaign calls on the world to end child marriage and invest in girls’ rights.
Every girl deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, feel safe, discover what she loves, and decide what kind of future she wants. A girl’s dreams should not be limited simply because she is a girl. As a mother, I believe we need to encourage our girls, listen when they talk, and remind them that their voices matter.
We need to teach them that they are valuable and deserving of love, respect, and opportunities. We cannot protect every girl from every hardship in the world, but we can do our part to make our homes and communities places where girls are encouraged to grow and where their futures matter.
I’ve shared Suzzane’s story here on GreatfulMoments.com because I don’t want her memory to disappear. I talk about her because she is my daughter, and mothers don’t stop loving their children when they are no longer physically here. Suzzane’s Bible was found in her backpack at Haltom High School. That is a memory I hold close to my heart. My faith has helped me through grief, although that doesn’t mean I don’t miss my daughter.
Suzanne was also an organ donor. Through that gift, she helped approximately 70 people. When I think about the lives touched because of her, I am reminded that even when a life is far too short, the love a person leaves behind can continue to reach others if we take the time to become organ donors..
I wish Suzzane had been given more time. I wish I could have watched her grow older and seen where life would have taken her. There are so many things a mother wishes she could change, but I cannot go back and change our story. What I can do is keep loving her, keep sharing her memories, and keep finding ways to honor her life.
For me, Suzanne will always be connected to butterflies. When I see a butterfly, I think of my girl flying free. It is a little reminder of the love that never goes away. We can start with the girls right in front of us. We can listen to our daughters and granddaughters. We can encourage our nieces, neighbors, students, and the young women who cross our paths. We can teach our girls that they don’t have to be just like everyone else to be important.
We can help them learn, support their education, encourage their interests, and speak up when we see girls being treated unfairly. We can also support organizations working to protect girls from violence, exploitation, and child marriage. Most of all, we can remind girls that their lives have value and that their dreams deserve to be taken seriously.
Not every mother gets to see her daughter grow into an adult. Not every girl gets the chance to grow up safely. That is something I wish were different in this world. Today, I am thinking about Suzzane, but I am also thinking about every girl who deserves the chance to grow up, find her way, and make memories with the people who love her.
In Loving Memory of Suzanne 🦋 Suzanne, you were my daughter, and you are still my daughter and you are part of my story, and you will always have a place in my heart. I cannot celebrate another birthday with you here beside me, but I can celebrate the life you lived, the people you helped, and the love you left behind.
If sharing your story helps another mother hold her daughter a little closer, encourages a family to listen to their girl, or reminds someone that every child deserves a chance at a future, then I will keep sharing. Today, on the International Day of the Girl Child, I remember my beautiful daughter and all the possibilities that should have been hers.
I love you, Suzzane. You are forever my girl, and in my heart, you are still flying free.
What would you tell your daughter today if you could have one more conversation with her? And if you are raising a girl, what is one thing you hope she always knows about herself? Share your thoughts with me in the comments. Sometimes our stories and memories can remind another person that they are not alone.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed — even on the days when my heart misses someone.
🦋 Suzanne, Flying Free
✝️ Faith, Friends & Family
Additional reading: Learn more about the International Day of the Girl Child at the United Nations.
Gratful. Thankful. Blessed.
GreatfulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
