An Open Letter to the People in My Teenage Daughter’s Future,
Dear Future Friends,
You should know that first and foremost my daughter is faithful and trustworthy, but not gullible, so tread lightly when befriending her, for she can either be your dearest friend or your greatest loss. She will never leave your side. She will laugh with you, cry with you, build you up and stand in the way of anyone who intends to tear you down. I am fully aware that there will come a time when you stand in front of me along side her explaining why you guys did whatever it is that you did. (MINOR trouble only….please and thank you). I know that even the best people make bad decisions sometimes. I hope that you will find joy in her smile, and wipe away her tears when I am not there.
Dear Future...
How to cope with family
You don’t know me, but I am his daughter. I am the girl who now watches her family fall apart. It’s not your responsibility to care about my family or my happiness, but you affect it. It’s not your responsibility to worry about his choices, but you’re part of them. I’m sure he was charming, as my dad is. I’m sure he said he wasn’t happy in his marriage that he was thinking of getting out any number of lines 100 men before him have said to women everywhere, and that they continue to fall for. It’s not your responsibility to say no, it’s his to be better, but I have written my letter to him, this letter is to you. To the women who participate in breaking up families, who know he’s married and don’t care or don’t let it stop you.
I am of the mindset that there is a special place...
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"You are my sunshine," she says.
Thank you for being my hero. Don't get me wrong, this letter will probably be pretty cheesy, but what's new.
Words cannot and will not ever be able to describe how much I love and appreciate you. You are my best friend, my role model, and my mother all in one. I only hope to be what you are to me to my daughter one day. It's rare for a teenager and her mom to share such a close relationship, but honestly, if it were any other way life would just be boring.
I don't know what I would do without you. We fight, but that's only normal. I don't say it enough but thank you for being such a great role model. One day i will be able to appreciate you yelling at me to clean the house and one day i might even appreciate when you tell me I can't do certain...
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I was so excited on that day in March when I became an aunt. I was truly touched when you and my brother, before witnesses in your church, made her my Goddaughter as well. Then life happened, as it often does, and you found yourself a single mother. Like me.
Before I get to the heart of the matter, let me tell you about my brother. My brother has a genuine heart. He prizes honesty above all other traits in his fellow human beings. He has always been organized, practically living the mantra "a place for everything and everything in its place." He is the family comedian, full of light, joy, and has a witty line for almost every situation. He is a good father, doting, affectionate, appropriately stern when needed, fair and hopelessly in love with that child. The only crime my brother has...
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Son,
What was once a never ending dark tunnel of soul searching finally came to rest a year ago. I had reached the light. I had found my purpose in life.
What I once thought was love was no more. You took what I previously believed and turned it upside down. You showed me something much more powerful, more beautiful. For this I am forever grateful.
I will never forget the day I first laid eyes on you. You were already a few months old. My lifelong wait was over. As your arrival was near I shook in nervousness. When I saw you for the first time deep emotions ran through me; my legs buckled and I had to sit. The more I stared the more I cried. You were so beautiful.
Unfortunately life can be cruel. As the months past things got progressively worse. We were kept...
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You may have noticed another year has passed, another year that you haven't gotten a call or even a text from me on this day. I haven't seen you in a year and a half and I haven't spoken to you in nearly a year. I don't know if you even care that you have no idea what my life has been like. These past 3 years have been hell. Much of which can be traced back to you. You didn't care enough to call me on birthday or any other day. You didn't care that I felt abandoned by the first man I loved. You didn't care that I got into an abusive relationship, in which I was sexually assaulted. You didn't care that I was depressed for years. You didn't care when I failed 2 classes. You didn't care when I started going to counseling. You didn't care when I graduated college. You just didn't...
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Now I know you're expecting this long drawn out letter about my first love when I was 15, but my first love showed up alot sooner than that. My first love was a 18 year old boy with dimples and a cheeseball grin. He was my knight in shining armor. He was the boy that took me swimming everyday after work. The boy that spoiled me with cold stones. The boy that pretended to be my groom while I danced around the room in a wedding dress. The boy that saved my mom and me. The boy that was only a boy, yet was the man we needed. We were alone, my mom and I. You gave us a home. You gave me a dad. You were my boogy man hunter. You picked me up when I cried, you still do, and you always will. I know Im getting old. Im never home and Im constantly pushing to be an adult, but i will always be your...
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I was abandoned. Not at a doorstep or dumped in the trash, but given away. I was not wanted. The decision was made months before I entered the world. Before I breathed my first breath I was given up.
I was adopted by a couple. They were in love. For some reason they were unable to have a child of their own, so to them I was a blessing. God had answered their prayers and I was given to them. I was five days old.
I read in my baby book the promises they made to me. The promise to love me always and never leave my side. The promise to guide me through this life I was given and love me forever. For my father, or the man who pretended to be a father, forever was only five years. He abandoned me too.
It wasn't like those stories you hear where parents split and they still both took...
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At 19 almost 20 with you about to be 2 years old, I'm finally learning to let go: of old times and memories, pictures, and toxic love. While starting over isn’t easy and each day is a true struggle, you have no clue how grateful I am that you exists and just how often you keep me breathing.
Your smile, laughs, hugs, kisses, and yes even those rotten looks and temper-tantrums you throw. All of it makes each day a little sassier and a whole lot sweeter. Most days I can put on a smile and seem just fine, other days aren’t so easy, I feel as though I’ve hit rock bottom and I’m strangely standing still while the rest of the world seems to still keep spinning. I try being positive and telling myself the Lord will fight for me and I need only to be still, often some things are easier said than...
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To my son's Dad,
I remember one night in particular after we first met when I had told you that I didn't introduce my son to the man I was dating right away because he would get attached too easily. You didn't make a fuss about it, you let it develop slowly over time and when the time was right you met my son.
At two years old Cash met a man, a man he would later call Dad, you didn't push the bond you didn't force the connection between you two but you took the time, you made a commitment to a little boy who thinks you are a hero because you showed up to soccer practice, games, doctor appointments, school programs everything a father is, suppose to do you go above and beyond.
It doesn't matter that you two don't share the same blood he is in every way a copy of you. He wants to be...
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