From Mom, With Love

Child of mine, in two days you enter the big, new world of school.  You are so, so excited.  You don’t know that I am scared, sometimes really scared.  We’ve never done this before.  We’ve never let you go this far, this much, this long.  I’m worried that we haven’t prepared you enough, that we haven’t told you and showed you and given you everything you need to be safe and happy in the world of Kindergarten.  I’m worried for the things that might happen that we could never prepare you for.

But I don’t want to dwell on what I am afraid of.  You will never be alone even when you are away from home because Love will go with you. Let me just tell you what it is that I want for you this year, and always.

I want you to be brave. The kind of brave that comes from being loved and knowing where you belong. I want you to be brave enough to try to new things, brave enough to ask questions when you don’t understand, brave enough to try again after you’ve failed. I want you to be the kind of brave that is kind to everyone, the kind of brave that will apologize when you’ve hurt someone.  I want you to be brave enough to say, “no,” and walk away when you need to.

I want you to be curious. I want you to be curious about numbers and letters and why things work and how they are made. I want you to be curious about your friends, about what they like, what makes them happy and what makes them sad.  I want you to be curious because this world is a beautiful place and there is so much to learn and see.

I want you to notice. I want you to notice small beauties, like Darcy in a favorite book.  Notice small beauties like kind words, helpfulness, and forgiveness, small beauties like colors and textures and rhythms. I want you to notice how a friend is feeling; I want you to notice and share a smile when they are excited and show kindness when they are sad.  I want you to notice when something is bothering you.  I want you to be able talk to someone or do something to make it better, for it’s when you don’t notice that you will carry the unhappiness with you like a brick in your backpack.

I want you to love coming home.  I want you love it because home is the place where we listen to your excitement at growing up and friends and learning.  I want it you love it because it is a safe, happy place, a place where you can find quiet and rest.  It’s a big, busy world out there and you’re going to need to unwind.  I want you to love being home because your best friend is here–you will make lots of new friends and I’m excited for you, but you will never have another friend like your younger brother.  I want you to love home because your Daddy’s arms and your Mommy’s prayers are here to hold you close when you need it.

This, my little girl growing up, is what your Daddy and I want for you.  A good life in a good world with a good God.

2 Comments

  1. Reading this again today. Your words are so gentle, beautiful, and soothing. You are such a good mom to Caitrin, and she WILL carry all of these things with her because you do. 🙂

    1. Thank you, Hallie. I am so grateful that she has people like you in her life who care about her so much. With God, and all of us together I think we can give her lots of love and happiness in her childhood.

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