Writing Letters To My Children

Summary

A parent writes annual letters to their children, creating a personal time capsule to preserve memories and life's details for them to cherish as adults.

Abstract

The author of the content has established a tradition of writing a letter to their children on each of their birthdays. These letters serve as a chronicle of their lives, documenting significant events, personal reflections, and the state of the world at the time. The author, who has limited recollection of their own childhood, is motivated by a desire to ensure their children remember their upbringing and the love they are surrounded with. The letters, accompanied by cash corresponding to the child's age, are intended to be given to the children when they turn 21, providing them with a tangible piece of their past and a narrative of their growth. The author's spouse also contributes handwritten letters, adding another layer of intimacy to this family tradition.

Opinions

The author values the preservation of personal history and believes in the importance of remembering one's childhood.
They express a personal struggle with memory due to mental health issues and view this letter-writing as a way to mitigate such loss for their children.
The author sees these letters as more than just correspondence; they are a means of storytelling and a legacy for their children.
There is an intention to make the process of reading these letters in the future a joyful experience, enhanced by the inclusion of money as a fun element.
The author places high importance on their children understanding their value and the depth of their love, even beyond their own lifetime.

One letter a year

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Every year on their birthday, I write a letter to my children. I write about our lives so they will remember. I want them to remember their childhood and I want them to remember me.

I don't remember much of my childhood. It is mostly a blur with a lot of mental health issues mixed in, both of my own and others. I know that I had a good childhood, I was very fortunate, middle class, happy. I see it in pictures. But it is easier to remember the struggles, so somewhere along the way, my brain blocked most of it out. I wish someone could read me a story of my life from age one until age ten.

So I write. I write to my children. I tell them what is going on in the world, what their favorite movies are, and who their best friends are. The names of their preschools and our street address. I tell them how old I am and what I think about. I write the letters to my little ones knowing that they will be reading them as an adult. I plan to give them to them on their 21st birthday.

Sometimes (usually) I am late getting around to writing the letter, but it always gets done. My husband writes one too, his are handwritten. Mine are typed as I have been told my handwriting is impossible to read.

We also put cash in the envelopes with the letters, just to make it fun. The amount of money is equal to how old they are turning that year. When they turn 21, they will each have 21 letters to open with a total of $231.00. Not a huge amount, but something.

I do hope they cherish these letters and see them as what they are- a tiny time capsule into our lives. I want them to understand who they are, where they came from, and how unbelievably important they are to me, even when I’m no longer around.

Thanks for reading! You can read more of my work here.

Writing Letters To My Children

One letter a year

About Me — Alexandra Duncan

Millennial writer of poetry & memoirs, mother & wife

Why Do You Write?

I write to survive

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