Too often we’re so busy getting on with the daily business of parenting that we forget to stop and tell our kids we love them — and that we’re proud of the people they’re becoming. Blogger Maud from Awfully Chipper wrote this open letter to her children, and it’s a lovely reminder to all of us to slow down and really see our kids growing into themselves.
Kids, here’s what I want you to know.
I Am So Damn Proud of You
Whoever you are, whatever you do — already, and in the future — I am proud of you.
Because you came out of nowhere and took over my life, and it takes a lot to manage that. I’m inherently both lazy and set in my ways: I like my little routines and I like my stuff just the way I like it.
You Are Amazing People
But aside from my dislike of change — which you challenge every morning, noon, and night (especially night) — you are amazing people.
You are so completely yourselves, and nobody else.
You listen even when I think you don’t. You take on board information I have trouble processing myself. You know what you should be doing, even as you make an informed decision not to do it anyway.
You stand up for yourselves. You demand attention. You shout, dammit. (Shhh. My ears.)
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Don’t Ever Lose Your Self-Assurance
Don’t ever lose the self-assurance you have right now, in your pre-tween years.
It may be dampened a little in adolescence, when you strive for acceptance among your peers by trying to fit in, or by staying quiet when something inside you would rather sing and dance.
But bring it back as you emerge from your chrysalis, shedding one skin after another the way we all do in our teens — trying on one persona and then the next, like so many pairs of jeans — until you’re finally left with yourself, whether you like it or not. And then you have to learn to love who you are, or be miserable ever after.
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Keep This in Your Heart
Take your parents’ love for you, our delight in you, our trust and belief, and our assurance that you’re beautiful and worth all of it and more — and keep all of that in your heart. Let it be the standard you demand from the people you encounter, the ones you love and want to love you back.
And from yourselves.
I’m proud of you, because you are you.
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This post is by blogger Maud, who is from Dublin but unaccountably finds herself and her Irish husband raising two children in the USA. She spends her days ignoring the dust bunnies rampaging around the floor, trying to write a book, and blogging at Awfully Chipper, where this post first appeared. You can also follow Maud on Facebook and Twitter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an open letter to your children?
It’s a personal, heartfelt piece of writing addressed directly to your kids — sharing love, pride, hopes and honest feelings you might not always say out loud in the busyness of everyday life.
Why write an open letter to my children?
It gives you a chance to slow down and put into words what you’re proud of and what you hope for them. Many parents find it just as meaningful to write as it is for their children to read one day.
How do I write an open letter to my child?
Start from the heart rather than trying to be perfect. Speak to who your child is right now, be specific about what makes you proud, and don’t worry about getting the “right” words — honesty matters more than polish.
Related Articles
- A Message for my Child
- The Last Time Poem
- Time Flies When You Become Parents
Enjoyed This?
If this letter struck a chord, take a moment to bookmark it and come back to it on the busy days when you need reminding. You might also enjoy browsing more of our family life reads for more honest, heartfelt parenting moments.
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