Tuesday, March 24, 2009
My Birthday Gift to my Daughter.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 | Original Musings by
Jen
My baby turns 7 today. Each year for my little one's birthday, and some other special occasions, I write her a letter. Usually a 2 or 3 page handwritten letter that recaps some of the highs and lows of the previous year. The night where I write the letter is usually lacking in sleep, full of introspection, sometimes a few tears, and usually a lot of smiles. Last night was no different.
This year though, I spent some time thinking over the last 7 years about the people who have helped along the way. There are so many people that have made our lives better and I'm at a loss on how to thank them appropriately. Hopefully they know they can call me at 3am and I'll come help them if needed. I can never completely return what they've given to our lives.
Part of the letter was naming these people by name. Some of them are no longer in our lives for various reasons, and others I think will be there for a long time to come. Surprisingly very few are actually related, but everyone I told her about everyone I consider family.
I haven't decided at what age I will give these letters to her, but I hope when she reads them she will learn to appreciate that sometimes the best "family" to have is not the ones you're related to.
I decided to start doing this after receiving a hand written letter from my step mom. She sent it while I was pregnant. It was a simple one page letter that shared my pain, my joys, and gave encouragement. It is carefully stored where I keep other valuables, such as passports and birth certificates. It means that much to me. It's been read dozens of times and might have been the best "baby gift" I received. I guess my hope is that one day maybe even one of these letters will mean as much to my little one.
The games and gifts she receives this birthday will eventually be outgrown or broke. What was the coolest gift will soon be only remembered in photos, but I hope these letters from her mom will be something that will never go out of style or be forgotten. To me, that's the best birthday gift I could give my daughter (despite her desire for a wii).
Labels:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
Comments
Post-Tri Hug
You did it Mommy!
Me!
Hood To Coast Relay 2007
3 comments:
I don't normally read blogs, but I found yours inspiring, a couple of ways. First, I have been toying with the idea of running longer distance. Your blog quotes are a good kick in the ass to get me going.
Second, I also have a daughter. She is 11, so we are well along the way. However, as a dad I don't get nearly the harmone moments that my wife does.
Still, there is the whole family time vs. training time thing. I will have to work that out somehow.
Thanks! That means a lot.
Certainly the hardest thing for me is balancing mommy time with my time. By time I pick her up from after school care around 530 and put her to bed, around 830, Monday thru Friday I only get 3 hours a day with her. It quite disheatening. I would ove to say those 3 hours are full of wonderful moments, but in reality are full of dinner, her chores, her homework, we try to do one board game or puzzle a night, then shower, book or two, then bed.
(I'm responding via blackberry so forgive the dual response).
I wish I had the magical formula for balancing the two. Not only do you have time with your daughter to worry about, but also your wife. That can't be easy.
With my little one, I have learned she tolerates me doing my thing well, as long as she knows that she will have my undivided attention later, whvig includes leaving the blackberry in my purse on silent! Haha.
Keep me updated how your progress is going!!!
Post a Comment