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Parental Advice - Gift to Leave your Child With

23 October 2008 701 views 4 Comments Email Email Print Print

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Right before having my son, my sister told me an awesome piece of advice. She told me that the best thing I could do for my soon-to-be child was to start writing little letters or notes to him. Before his birth, afterward and for the years following. I took her advice on that. I think in the future, when my 4-year-old son is growing up, I can share them with him. I can go to Lulu.com to create an actual paperback-bound book of letters to him. I think it is such a good idea, and not just for people with children but for writing to anyone who you care about.

Shortly after we sold all our meager belonging and moved to Thailand the first time, I wrote him the little letter/note below. This was right moving there, and starting my venture online. :)

18 June 2005
Dear Joshua,
I changed your diaper on a Tuk Tuk yesterday. We hopped inside just in time – right before it began raining. We arrived in Thailand during the worst time of the year – during the extremely hot rainy season. We’ve been here for almost two weeks already, and neither of us has adjusted to the heat yet. When we go out during the day, we both sweat profusely and our faces turn bright red. So, I’ll try to go shopping at night when it’s cooler outside.
As I write this letter, you are now 5 months (and 2 days) old. You’re already a local celebrity in Chiang Mai. Everywhere we go I get stopped so people can talk to you and play with you. They all ask me if you’re Thai and they tell me you have Asian features. They comment on how cute you are and they say you’re “uwen,” the Thai word for chubby. You’re also very tall for a 5-month old. You were measured at your 4 month appointment in Wisconsin and the pediatrician said that you were taller than 75 percent of the babies your age. Pretty impressive!

Has anyone else done anything like this? Or do you have a good idea for parents?

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4 Comments »

  • advocado said:

    Holly! That is Hecka Tight! I saw this book by Sidney Portier http://www.amazon.com/Life-Beyond-Measure-Letters-Great-Granddaughter/dp/0061496189 the actor and I thought the idea was phenomenal.

    When I was in High School I talked with a friend of how it would be interesting if every person on the planet wrote one book. (some might dictate it or whatever, it might just be pictures) whatever…I digress.
    In any case the very thought of having a dialog with your child through writing and leaving a chronicle of your adventures with them is powerful. Observations musings ruminations all pointing to a future for them to read is a great gift.

    I am not a parent yet my wife and I will be someday and this sparks me with the passion for possibilities of a great legacy through the medium of writing!

    Cool post!

    Blessings
    AD

    # 24 October 2008 at 5:27 am
  • Dianne said:

    It is a wonderful idea. I wish my parents had shared more. When I first got a computer it was my first idea - but I never got started….life can be so busy. So to all of you parents - DO IT! I have a hard enough time keeping up with the workathomesuccess forum, and all the interesting sites and blogs discovered therein, my own blogs and writings and then the day job, re-writing screenplays, and………..gasp. I know if I don’t start this soon I will regret it.

    Diannes last blog post..Use of the Theraband For Ballet Shoes and Pointe Shoes

    # 25 October 2008 at 2:07 am
  • annaverawilliams said:

    I agree that its a great idea - I would even upload them to my server in case of fire! Those little things can be so priceless later on.

    My mom didn’t do that but she always wrote down the songs I made up and weird things I said … I would be yapping away and she would be quietly writing in a notebook and I would say “mommy, what are you writing?” and should would say “I’m writing down what you’re saying honey.” And I … “MOM!!!”

    annaverawilliamss last blog post..Easy Invoice Creation, Time Tracking, and Painless Billing for Freelancers

    # 25 October 2008 at 10:18 am
  • catklc said:

    Holly, it’s a wonderful idea…I only wish I started sooner.
    Documenting anything that is of meaning to you is crucial so that you can look back at what you accomplished or created.

    We don’t give ourselves enough credit for being parents, but when we can track our child’s growth, and the first signs of real passion towards something, we are able to pinpoint what we did right to steer our child towards success.

    Children also don’t have the full extent of historical knowledge about their mother or father, the things that contributed to their style of parenting, the struggles they may have experienced, or the challenges that came their way. These are things you generally don’t burden your child with when they’re young. Your main focus is that they are happy children and will always feel loved, even if their family is not the “conventional” one.

    When they are old enough to read and appreciate your poignant words to them and about them, they will know the true unconditional love you felt for them through the years.

    Karen

    # 25 October 2008 at 3:34 pm

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