Thursday, March 20, 2008

Open Letters: Extra special and full of cheese.

Tommorrow will be Boy and Girl Child's 10th birthday.

Amazing.

Someday, I will let them read these.

Someday.


Dear Girl Child,

Recently, you and I were talking and something you said confirmed for me that you are one of the most amazing people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.

You said, “I will be a very, very good mother.”

And you will, honey, you totally will. But what you said next confirmed it.

You said, “Your mother is a good mother. You are a very good mother. I will be a very, very good mother. It gets a little better each time.”

Maybe you don’t understand, to that level. Hell, I didn’t understand until I was thirty. But you do, in some way, get the fact that we all just do the best we can. My mother wasn’t perfect, so I try to be a little better than she was. I’m not perfect, but you know that I try so hard to be just a little better. And you, in turn, will try hard to be just a little better than I was for you. Your daughter? Will likely be the most amazing person either of us have ever met.

And she will have you to thank.

Often when I think about you, I am completely in awe. You are really a beautiful person, inside and out. You have a grace that is uncommon for a child your age. You make so many things seem so very effortless, but at the same time you never make your brother, or any other child, feel stupid or small if things don’t come quite as easy for them. You have self-confidence that rivals a supermodel, but you are never rude about it. You are who you are and you are unashamedly, unabashedly okay with that.

I hope you always know in your heart who you are. I hope you always remain true to yourself. I hope you do become a writer someday, because you, at age ten, display a true talent and voice. I hope you never let anyone make you think that you can’t make it, because I believe, firmly, that you can. I hope you never let anyone deter your hopes and dreams and that no matter what those dreams are, you pursue them with gusto. I hope you never let anyone make you think you don’t deserve as much because you are a girl, because, you my love, deserve the world. I hope you never, ever let anyone make you feel like you are less than amazing. Because you? Are truly an amazing person. I am honored to be in your life and even more honored that you consider me a “very good mother”. Because I totally consider you a “really great daughter”.

Love,
Mom





Dear Boy Child,

The night before last when I called you at your grandparent’s house and you had to go into the bathroom to talk to me and when you were safely secured, with the door closed and you whispered, “It’s hot as hell mom!”? Confirmed for me that you are funny as hell. Oh, and also respectful and all that crap. So, you rock.

For the last ten years, I’ve watched you all the time. You’ve struggled a lot, and you’ve failed a time or two, but I have always been absolutely amazed at your tenacity. You fall down and you get back up. You accept your fate in life with dignity. Sure you’re small. Maybe the other boys (okay, and girls) are bigger than you. But you? Are fierce. You are mighty. What you have inside is a spine of steel and a heart of gold and no one can ever, ever take that from you.

You teach me more in one day than I could ever teach you in a lifetime. And not just things like what a Kiwi is. You teach me how to be tough and how to be strong. You teach me that it’s okay to be myself. That if I am myself, people are still going to love me. Really, really cool people like you and your sister. You teach me that it’s okay to just horselaugh sometimes, even if it isn’t that funny. And, as I’ve mentioned before, your elaborate revenge fantasies? Amazing. I have no idea how we could fit chocolate laxatives, angry monkeys, and bees all into a box, but if we ever do? You and me babe, are going to take over the world.

For a million reasons and a million more reasons I don’t even know about yet, I am so freaking glad you are my kid.

Love,
Mom

30 comments:

Sabrina said...

That is so sweet Chick, they're going to totally love reading that in a few years :)

Stephanie said...

They sound like really special kids. I hope you do give them those letters. They are very well written and incredibly touching.

Sarcasta-Mom said...

*sniffles* That's too sweet. And never forget, your kids are awsome people becasue they have an awsome mom like you :)

Anonymous said...

Those letters are awesome...thank you for sharing them with us.

Happy Birthday Boy & Girl Child!

frannie said...

Happy Birthday to two of the Rockin'est kid's ever!!!!

times a million!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

This post should come with a kleenex warning. Those kids are so, so lucky to have you.

Captain Steve said...

Now I'm feeling all weepy. What's a horselaugh? And I hope your son is a benevolent dictator.

Mrs. Booms said...

Chick, I love you and the blasted tears you bring to my eyes.

Your kids are rock stars because you are.

I wish I had half the patience you seem to have with your children.

AmyBow said...

Yay for you! Entering Spring on all sorts of high notes. Methinks this bodes well for the rest of the year.

Angie said...

You rock, my friend. I thought of you as I cruised your side of the world this morning. (even went into Michael's and spent moolah!)

Kelly said...

WOW..amazing letters!

judy in ky said...

Just wonderful... warms my heart to hear how you feel about your kids. You are all very lucky.

Anonymous said...

LMAO.
*sniff sniff*

Dayum, woman. You make me laugh. AND CRY in post.

I wish I had had a mother like you when I was a child;). I mean that. xo

Wenderina said...

How do I spell awesome?

C.H.I.C.K.T.H.E.M.O.M.

The depth of understanding and appreciation you have for your kids, and your ability to express it is a wonderful thing to witness.

Dreamer said...

Happy Birthday Girl and Boy Child! :) Cute letters, too. They are going to love reading them when they are older! :)

Heather J. said...

Hey, it's letting me post today!

Happy Birthday to you all!

Dawn~a~Bon said...

Your children impress the heck out of me.

YOU impress the heck out of me.

You're the kind of mom I want to be someday.

Jenski said...

Great letters!

Happy Birthday Girl and Boy Child...even though you aren't reading. :)

Allie said...

Happy Birthday to BC and GC!!
You're kids are so awesome and so special I can only imagine what kind of mom girl child will be and boy child will be so succesful in life because he never gives up. You've done right by them, have a totally wonderful day.

Alpha Dude said...

You, my dear friend, are awesome.

And your children are very much blessed.

Hope those two have a wonderful birthday!

And you and Jason? Inspire me in ways you may never know.

Blessings.

PaintedPromise said...

aawww happy tears - yes definitely let them read them someday! my youngest is 17 and i am so ready to have an empty nest... but if your two needed a nest, i would sure take them in! great kids...

PS i know, i know, i am going to miss them when they are gone... my oldest is 25 and married 4 years, living in another state, so believe me i know... but still! i long for the day when my relationships with the other two can be like my oldest now - no more nagging! i don't care if her room is clean or her chores are done - but then i am not tripping over her stuff left all over my house lol

Chanin said...

That was so sweet! It brought tears to my eyes. It sounds like you have very wonderful children! Happy Birthday to them!

Misty said...

I'm a sap! i always do these for my daughter too... too lovely!

Cricky said...

I agree, print them out, store them away and give them their letters at a later time.

They will love you for it.

Stephanie said...

Those were awesome. Made me all teary. Happy Birthday to Girl Child and Boy Child!

Jocelyn said...

You make me all weepy.

Anonymous said...

They're awesome. you're awesome.

The end.

Jhianna said...

I would have loved to have gotten a letter like that from my mom.

(and I love reading it - thank you for letting me see a little bit of what it's like to have children.)

SJINCO said...

Awwww!

I may or may not be teary eyed at this very moment....

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

I quite possibly might be crying right now.

I love you and your awesome kids!