Barack Obama has written a tearjerker of a letter to his young daughters.

Asked by Parade magazine (hat tip, Huffington Post) what sort of personal message he would give children Sasha and Malia, the president-elect penned an open letter telling the girls he ran for president because of what he wants for them and every other child in America.

After growing up thinking almost wholly about himself, he writes, their births changed his worldview forever. And in the best way possible:

… Then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours.

Obama then declares that he wants all American kids to go to good schools and be inspired, have a chance to go to college even if their parents can’t afford it, and get well-paying jobs that allow them time to spend with their own children. Speaking of education, Obama also writes that the country as a whole should do what it can to overcome racial and other social divides.

Finally, adds Obama, he hopes that when they grow up, young Sasha and Malia will also do something to give back to a country that his given them so much. "It is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential," he writes.

Click here to read the whole letter. And be sure to have the tissues handy.