Sometimes we’ll ask our children what their favorite memory has been in their little lives, thus far. One time our son responded by saying his favorite memory was a simple letter I had written him the week before.
Obviously it was still fresh on his mind, otherwise I’m sure he would have chosen something a bit more, well, memorable! Likely he would not even remember that specific letter now. But it drove home the fact that this small gesture matters a great deal to my children.
So, I keep writing letters. And sometimes I’ll get a sweet letter in return, which makes it all the more worthwhile.
The letter doesn’t have to be reserved for when they are doing everything perfectly or when they’ve accomplished something great. How often could we, as parents, use a pat on the back when life seems to be crumbling around us? Our children are no different, except maybe more impressionable.
Is there someone in your house who could use an encouraging word? You might just make a favorite memory this week in the life of a child. :)
Amen. I still compose a monthly handwritten letter to each daughter. I began this rich-ual when they were freshmen in college after reading an article about staying connected to them after they left our nest. On "Letter Writing Days," my husband knows I won't be getting out of my pajamas until I sign, "On a day just like today, Jesus will come. All my love, Mother."
ReplyDeleteMy girls anticipate the arrival of my "epistles," typically packed with magazine articles I think they'd enjoy reading, coupons, handmade items, like their beau's initials formed from sparkling pipe cleaners, and the like. Sometimes I have to mail their letters in large manila envelopes! "It's like Christmas every month, Mom," they told me.
Wow Kelley, that is so sweet and very touching. How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad for this reminder Rie! I should do this more often for my children.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago my son went on a trip to visit his cousin. Before he left, I wrote a little message on a cute postcard and tucked it inside his suitcase for him to discover and know that I was thinking of him. I know it must have made him feel good because I later saw that he had saved it :)
When my three were in high school, I wrote them a note on the first day of school each year. I did not know they kept them but when each of them graduated, they had saved them all. I need to write notes to them more often. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I love the simplicity of it and yet how much of an impact it will have. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank's for bringing that back to my mind... I'll write an e-mail to YOU soon, too ;)
ReplyDeleteToday I needed to hear this! How quickly life goes by and we can forget those "little" things.God used your message today for me.
ReplyDeleteMy father passed away in 1989 and my mother in 1991. I still have all the letters they wrote to me over the years. Very precious to me.
ReplyDeleteThe letters my children appreciate the most from me, are the ones when I say I am sorry.
~*Oh I used to love writing little notes to my sons on their napkins in their lunchboxes!!This post made me smile...so sweet!! Hugs,Rachel~*~*
ReplyDeleteSo true. My kids love getting letters, notes, and lunchbox napkin notes. My son, who is 13 saves them all. So sweet. Thanks for the reminder to get out that pen today!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, my mother always used to put letters into my suitcase when I was going somewhere (on a school-trip or a language summer course) and it always made me feel great.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived abroad, she often sent me little letters, telling about the daily life at home, and even though we mostly kept in touch over the phone or in emails and the letters were indeed outdated when they arrived, it always, always made me smile just seeing her writing and reading those words.
There is something about handwritten letters that emails can never replace.
My mother used to write to me all the time when I was in college, and I loved it. She would send coupons and newspaper articles from the local town paper that she thought I might be interested in. Those were the days before email, and I will cherish those memories. I will most certainly be writing to my daughter when she goes off to college too. Who ELSE is going to send her coupons? :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful idea. My husband works away for 7 days, then is home for 7 days. While he is away, he always mails a special letter to each of our two girls, 3 and 6. They are so excited to get a letter in the mail, and especially one from daddy. They carry them around for days, showing anyone who visits...too cute.
ReplyDeleteLove handwritten letters and your post brought back memories of when our children were little. They would get together and call their little meeting of the minds "kids headquarters" and they would write my hubby and I notes...some with pictures, some with words. A short paragraph thanking us for something...sometimes knock knock jokes and then they would deliver them....LOL, they would slide them under our door or place them on our pillows. Always such a treat when we woke up or went to bed. Of course we had "parent headquarters" and responded in kind. : )
ReplyDeleteI did this for my children all their growing up years. It is so much easier to say (and for them to recieve) written words of love sometimes....or gentle direction. You are blessing your kids beyond today with that gesture! Hugs- Diana
ReplyDeleteI am and will always remain a big fan of the handwritten letter . . . to kids . . . to college students . . . to our daughters and to their friends . . . to my friends and people of all ages. I love the writing tools, pens, paper, envelope, stamps etc. I love the words. I LOVE LETTERS.
ReplyDeleteYour son gets it.
Fondly,
Glenda
I don't think I've ever told you how much I LOVE your blog! I love how insightful you are with your children. Time to get out the notecards...:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Rie, Perfect day to re-start notes of love, encouragement, and nonsense to my kids.
ReplyDeleteDon't know why I ever stopped - funny thing is, I have a small box of notes they wrote to me over the years and I treasure them so much.
Great blog -
Marsha
I write letters to my daughter all the time. Sometimes they are short and sweet - like little sticky notes in her lunchbox, and other times, they are longer. The best is when I find them tucked away in her room b/c she has kept them as memories. Found you through TLC as one of the best blog posts for 2010. Congratulations and Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteMy kids aren't readers yet, but I do love this! What a great reminder to take the time. Hey - everyone loves getting some mail!
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC idea! Thank you for sharing that!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing I love more than to write or receive handwritten letters. When my kids were growing up, I put a note in each of their lunch boxes every day. At every milestone birthday (1; 2 7; 10; 16 18; 21) I have written them each a long letter. It's a whole other story how I come to think of these years as milestones, it's just another excuse for me to correspond with them on a more intimate level. Now I'm writing letters to my grandkids as well. I once had a niece tell me that when anything comes in the mail from me she gets excited from the personal stationary down to the written word. That means so much to me. Keep writing those letters — they're priceless.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful for this reminder...our daughter's favorite thing about her birthday this year was the cards...so with this little prompt I think I'll go about the business of cards throughout the year :)
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