Dear daughters
Gwen, you're my oldest
And you're quite a lady
You're my only blue-eyed girl
And you turn sixteen in April
And you sure made a change in my world
I'm sorry I missed the big evening
Your first date
And I wasn't around
Save all the secret things you did
And tell me when I get to town
And on your graduation
I wanted pictures to look back on
But then I wasn't there to take them
As usual I was gone
You've had to grow up much too quick
And you've done it on your own
You did it without mama
Cause mama wasn't home
And Jackie
You're quite a lady too
You're just one year younger than Gwen
And there's so much that I'm missing
Like being mommy now and then
I remember the day
You cooked your first meal
You were nine
You cooked biscuits and ham
And you called it to me how good it was
Cause I was out of town
And at the party for fathers and daughters
Well, I know you felt out of place
And even the pretty dress I bought
Couldn't fill that empty space
And the time when you got sick
And the doctors turned you down
They said they couldn't treat you
With your mama out of town
And Tina
You're such a pretty girl
With big almond eyes, brown
And they voted you a home coming queen
When I was out of town
I know you were a beauty
Cause your sisters dressed you right
And you said it didn't matter
That I was out of town that night
And the day that you joined the cheer leading team
Boy, nothing could hold you down
You yelled, "Hip hip hurray"
Over the phone cause as usual
I was out of town
And Tamala Georgette Jones
You simply take my breath away
Born just six short years ago
And named for your daddy and me
Going to sleep on meemaw's arm
And listening to her hum
Drifting off to fairy land
While sucking on your thumb
While just yesterday you pulled a tooth
You sure are brave and strong
I wish I could have been there
But as usual
I was gone