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Mother’s Day Tips:
Scenario: A mother
receives this kit as a gift. She writes to her child in the future; the child receives the letter up to 15 years from
now.
- Like many of the other kits, there
may be an impulse to write a letter that makes many predictions or expresses hope for what the child’s life will be
like in the future. But the most important element that a mother can convey to her child through this type of intimate
communication is how her life is right now, what life is like at this moment in time.
- The future age of the child will obviously determine what type of letter this is going to be.
If the child will be 30 when they receive the letter then the mother’s focus may be a little different than if the child
will be 18 or 10. Even still, the general rule remains the same: seek to reveal how life is, how you as the mother are
at this moment in time.
- You should attempt to
capture as many of the details of the present day as you can in the letter. Including how old the child is at this very
moment, and what he or she is like; their personality, their behaviors. Some mothers even have their child write part
of the letter.
- It is probably a very good idea
to include some specifics about you and about experiences that you had at the age when your child will be reading the letter.
Tell a story about a time when you were 10 or 20 or 30. Try to express what life was like for you, what your concerns
were, and yes, even the things that you had learned by then. This is a good time for some advice, no matter what age
your child will be when reading the letter. We can always use some pointers on this journey.
- Telling a story is key. People love stories, and people love stories about their own
family even more. Try to think of some episode that you could never relate to your child now, at their present age,
but that will be very appropriate at the time they read the letter. There is nothing as touching as reading a letter
from your mother and learning that she too experienced life, and had emotions, and did all sorts of things.
- Reveal, reveal, reveal. This may be the perfect opportunity to
relate a story that is out of character for you the mother. We all know that if we revealed ourselves fully to our children
when they were young, they would probably have us committed to an institution. But at a certain age, learning that your
mother was a real, actual living human being can be enlightening and extremely refreshing. Give your child this gift
in your letter.
- Don’t spend too much time
detailing your hopes for the child, we all have the same basic hopes for our children and this is the one thing that children
pretty much figure out by themselves. We all want them to be happy and healthy and find their way in the world.
What is more valuable is advice or suggestions that will help them do this. So don’t just reveal your hopes for
their future, try to give them some tools that are appropriate to their stage in life.
- Remind them that you love them. Describe a brief moment that will help show your love,
instead of just saying the words. Describe the way they look as they run across the yard in the sun, and how that makes
you feel. Try to have your emotions come out from specific descriptions rather than just the language.
- While this all may seem heavy and difficult, you must try your best
to relax and let yourself write whatever you feel. There is no right or wrong answer here, only an opportunity to share
some of your innermost thoughts with your children in a way that is sure to impact them in the future.
- Don’t procrastinate. Don’t wait around for inspiration
or the ‘right words’ to come to you. They rarely do. Just sketch out a few ideas on a piece of paper
and then go for it. This exercise is not being graded!
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