Dear Michael,
I don't tell you this enough, but I am so, so proud of you. You have turned into this amazing young man, and you try so hard. You try to do the right thing. You try to be kind. You try to be good. You work at school, at soccer and in karate. This weekend, when you were too sick to go to religious school you said to me, "you have to call religious school. I don't want them to think I'm just not coming."
Michael, you are not going to be perfect at everything. And that is hard for you. You want to be the best at everything. And I know you struggle with the fact that you still need extra help with reading, while some other kids in your class can read chapter books. But your teacher and I believe in you so much and know you are making so much progress. You need to stop comparing yourself to everyone else and just remember that you are you. You are no one else.
You are my favorite person in the entire world. You are funny. You have a huge heart. And you want people to like you so much. You are going to be the most amazing man, and you are going to accomplish great things in your life. But what I want you to remember more than anything, is that you are amazing, and you can do what ever you want.
But you do not have to be perfect.
This post is part of Just Be Enough, where the prompt was to write a letter to your child, or to your future self.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Love this.
I agree with Stephanie, love it. You know someday this generation of kids will google (or whatever search is then)their parents. What a nice thing for Micheal to find.
That is such wonderful advice! For anyone.
Love this too. Watching Michael grow and develop on this site (or as much as you divulge) is such a privilege and he does sound like an amazing little boy.
Reading is so tough for some kids. Two of my three had trouble with it and it was at times heartbreaking. Hope your son is feeling better.
LOVE this! And so very true. How is it that at such a young age they feel they have to be perfect? Especially when they have families that are nothing but supportive of them just as they are? xoxo
So perfectly stated! Learning to love ourselves INCLUDING our flaws: that’s the life lesson so many of us miss.
Glad that Michael will hear it early and hear it from the heart.
This is a beautiful letter! Wonderful lessons you are passing on to your son.
One of those letters that goes into the memory box, is found 25 years from now and still 100% relevant. Simply lovely.
Jodifer,
I love your letter to your son. You are raising a conscientious, well-mannered young man which says a lot about his mama.
This will be referenced when the day comes for me to say a few words to my son as well. Thank you for sharing.
Darlene
What a beautiful letter, your son sounds like he is more than enough already
He will be thrilled to read this in the future.
He sounds like an amazing kid. You know him so very well. Some of the tips you gave him were so very specific and you know just how he is going to react to them! I like how you told him how to overcome some of his weaknesses and were sure to tell him all of the great things you love about him! -Laverne
What a beautiful letter to your son.
Oh, such a good message.
Important, even.
Perfect- meh.
Your best- perfection.
Love this!