Letters to your children

One of the things I am so glad I did when my kids were growing up, is write them a letter. I wish I would have written more. The letters I did write are priceless and I am so glad that I wrote them.

I wanted my daughters to know about themselves, through my eyes. They aren’t going to remember their first or second year, and there are many things I have forgotten. I’m also not going to beat myself up for the letters I didn’t write. Life happens, gets busy and what I did write, is important. The point is, something was written down and it is special. Also, anything I write from here on out will have special meaning, down the road, and for that I will be glad, as well.

So, what I am saying is, it is never to late! Start today!

When to write to your children

You can write a letter or note to your child at anytime. I chose to write specific letters to them on their birthdays. Birthdays always come with some nostalgia. Thinking about what has happened during the year and how many changes have taken place during that year as well as past years.

Times to write:

• Birthdays
• When they have accomplished something
• When they have had a disappointment
• When they need encouragement
• Just for fun
• To tell them you love them

 

 

 

 

Mail Call

Another thing we did, was decorate envelopes and put them on everyone’s bedroom doors. The envelopes had their names on them and were decorated to their interests. My kids loved getting “mail” and this was a fun way for them to get “mail”. Notes would be put in their envelopes to tell them they were loved, appreciated or good luck with something going on. It was fun and they loved getting those notes. My husband was the best at sending mail!

The kids also enjoyed writing mail for mom, dad and their siblings. It was a good positive way to encourage them toward sibling harmony. We focused a lot on how to be positive and looking for the good in one another.

What to write to your children

A letter is a great way to express loving feelings for your child. It is a great time to tell them how much faith you have in them and how much they mean to you. Letters are a great way of building your child up and helping them to find their place. These letters should be positive.

• Tell them you love them
• Help them see themselves through your eyes
• Give them encouragement
• Tell them about your hopes for them
• Share a fun story about them or a moment with them that meant a lot to you or that shows their personality
• How have you seen them be brave, kind, loving, generous, helpful, etc.

 

Letter to my one year old

This is one of the letters I wrote, to one of my daughters. It was her first birthday.

Letter

Dear Breanna
Happy Birthday! I love you so very much! I’m so glad you are a part of our family!
You have an incredible amount of energy. You don’t like to sit still, there’s so much you need to do and try. I have never seen a child with as much determination as you have. When you wanted to learn to stand, you pulled yourself and fell down several times without getting discouraged or frustrated. I hope you will use your determination to your benefit and develop the talents you have been blessed with.
At age 1, you like to: dance and sing, play the computer, watch the computer screen, play with Kaylee and try to do what Kaylee does.
I love your sweet personality. You don’t smile tons, because you are busy concentrating and studying people and what is going on around you.
You are a beautiful angel and I love you. I look forward to the years that lie ahead of us.
Love Always,
Mommy

About You!

These are fun things to do for your small children. It is fun to have them fill out an interview as they get older, too.

For each question or rather statement, I write a thing or two and sometimes include a little more. For example, when my daughter was 2 years old and I wrote “My hair is brown and curly.” I continued with: “I let mommy French braid it.”

I include things she loves dogs, trains and planes. That she likes to go for rides in the car, songs she likes to sing, and where she likes to play. I mention friends she likes to play with, how she loves to sit on daddy’s lap and watch him on the computer (he’s a programmer), how she loves to help me around the house and play with her sister. Don’t forget to write about favorite foods, books and favorite clothes.

Just tell about your child! I forgot how much she loved lip balm, until I read through my daughter’s about you, recently. I couldn’t forget about the Tic Tacs and how much she loved them and we  had to hide them from her, because she put them up her nose a few times. Who can forget orange snot? Though, I am glad I still wrote down Tic Tacs as a favorite, because she doesn’t remember.

Click here for an example of answers and interview questions that you can download and save on your computer.