(AP) WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama, in an open letter to daughters Malia and Sasha, says he hopes they can "grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach."

In the letter signed "Love, Dad," and printed in weekend editions of Parade magazine, Obama gives some family insights as he prepares to take the oath of office as the 44th _ and first African-American _ president of the United States.

"When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me, about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful and get the things I want," he wrote. "But 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 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," he said.

Among the principles Obama laid out for the girls to live by were these:

_"Push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives."

_"Push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religions, that keep us from seeing the best in each other."

_When it becomes necessary to send young people to war, "I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason."

_The "unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us."