Letters to my future children: #3

I was just thinking, kids.

I hope in heaven you're paying good attention to life down here. Dad and I were talking yesterday about some things, and I just wanted to give you a little heads up. There is a little thing called High School here on earth, kids. A time of life that can be used for good or evil. The most important thing about school is learning, right? You'd think so. It seems that kids care more what others think of them, instead of what is really important: getting an education. Sometimes it gets to a point where people stop being themselves because they're trying so hard to be popular, or charming, or whatever it takes for them to be whatever it is that they want to be.

There is a wonderful wonderful thing that happens after high school though, kids. It's called graduation. After graduation, a whole world is opened up to you almost overnight, like magic. A world where you come to a realisation that all of those cliques, those people you desperately wanted to be accepted by, the superficial clothing, cars, or electronics you agonized over, all of it; it doesn't matter anymore. What a release it is. I can't tell you how many times I've heard roommates, or classmates, or friends I went to University with who would say, "I wish I would have known when I was in high school how stupid it was to try to be something that I wasn't. How silly it was for me to try so hard to be cool." I find myself thinking that a lot too, especially when I see people I grew up with, who are still stuck in the High School mentality (a true tragedy I hope you kids don't experience).

High School isn't a bad thing, don't get me wrong. It's a time when you start to discover who you are. You make friends, some who will become lifelong pals. You get a taste of pre-adulthood. It's in high school that you will likely get your drivers license. It's in High School that (usually) you decide which University to go to (a university is like a bigger, cooler, more expensive version of high school minus the drama, kids). High School is great.

Maybe it's because I am a girl, but it seems to me that girls struggle alot more with this than boys do.
My dear girls, I hope you know it's ok to be unique. 

In fact, sometimes it's preferred. 

I hope you feel completely comfortable being just you, knowing always, that the most important definition of who you are is a son or daughter of God. As long as you know that first (and second that you have loving parents), I think you're good to go. You'll always be adored. It's taken me 20+ years to notice something remarkable, kiddos. I've noticed that those who are the most comfortable being exactly who they are; those people are loved the most. They are adored because they have the strength to be themselves.

People who are liked

a) appreciate themselves,

b) love others and show their love, and

c) are willing to share, rather than expectant to receive.

I know you're not even here yet, but could you promise to think about something for me? Just think about what an incredible thing it is, just to have the opportunity to be here; to be able to live life, and experience the ride. Don't worry about which store you'll get your clothes, which phone you can't wait to get, or what color car you want. Everything is going to be just fine.

Of course, you'll figure all of this out on your own when you come down to us.

 I just wanted to give you the heads up.


love always and forever,
mom