To my dear daughter,
Technology is becoming a part of your life more and more. Eventually you will want a phone and will want to start communicating with others online. Before that day comes, it is important for me to tell you a few things. You will hear these words a lot from me—you might even get sick of them. But these reminders are important. When the time comes, you will know how important they are. When you are hurting, let me remind you of these things.
Let me remind you …
When you are teased, hurt, or humiliated, that day will seem horrible and unbearable. Just know that when you make it through that night, things have a way of looking more hopeful in the morning. Tomorrow holds possibilities that you cannot see today. I will help you see the promises in tomorrow when you can’t see them for yourself.
Let me remind you …
With me, you don’t have to be strong. You can cry, scream, and let out your true feelings. My love for you cannot be changed by revealing the feelings going on inside you—no matter how hard they are to say out loud.
Let me remind you …
You are worthy of love, respect, and kindness. If other kids hurt you, together we’ll figure out a way to help you work through those problems or distance yourself from them if needed.
I encourage you to find that one loyal and kind friend to go through the school year with – don’t let societal standards fool you into believing friends must be popular, good looking, or cool – at the end of the day, kindness is the most important quality to have in a friend and be in a friend.
Let me remind you …
If you have been humiliated or teased, facing certain people may seem impossible. But you have the courage and strength within you to show others they cannot hold you back from living your life.
Let me remind you …
No matter how personal the attack, it is about them—their insecurities and issues—not about you.
Let me remind you …
No matter how humiliated you are or how embarrassing it is to tell me what happened, when I look at you, I see my beautiful and amazing child. No one can change the way I see you.
Let me remind you …
You can come to me with anything—even if you made a mistake, even if you used bad judgment. There is nothing that is “too bad” to tell me. Believe me, I have made plenty of mistakes and even though it was hard to let someone else in, I was so relieved not to carry the burden alone.
Let me remind you …
If your gut tells you what someone is doing is wrong, it probably is. Don’t take part. Letting an adult know about someone who is being harmed or bullied does not make you a coward—it makes you courageous and compassionate; it makes you a good friend who can look back on this later and life and proudly say, “I didn’t turn the other cheek. I tried to help.”
Let me remind you …
I cannot make your problems and hurts go away, but I can listen. And together we can come up with a solution. There is nothing we can’t get through together. You are never, never alone.
I love you forever & always.
Mom
