An Open Letter from a Parent to a Child

To my dear child,

When I learned that I was going to become a parent, I must admit that I was a little nervous. My nervousness eventually subsided, however, and gave way to joy and excitement.

I will never forget the day that you came into my life. You, my dear child, are the greatest gift that has ever been given to me.

Part of my role as a parent is to teach you to be the best person you can be, but I want to let you know that you have taught me so much in return, including how to be the best person that I can be.

Knowing that you are watching everything I do and learning from my example has made me want to live my life in a way that will make you proud. I want to be the best role model for you that I can be.

I am not perfect and I don’t always have the answers, but I am doing the absolute best that I can.

You have taught me to appreciate the little things in life. From the fascination you had as an infant when you discovered your toes, to your ability to make any moment much more fun by acting silly, you’ve shown me that it’s not “things” that create happiness, but rather one’s attitude toward them.

You have taught me what it means to love someone with all my heart. Before you were born, I thought I knew what love was. Boy was I wrong!

There will come a day when you will leave home to go out on your own. While the thought of your leaving the nest breaks my heart, I want you to know that I will always be here for you.

Sometimes the world can seem like a scary place, and I can’t promise you that bad things won’t happen. I can promise you, however, that I shall do my best to shield you from the bad and to provide for your future.

The world is your oyster, and your future is so bright. I want you to reach for the stars and have the courage to follow your heart. My biggest hope and mission in life is to give you everything you need in order to achieve your dreams.

Your hopes are my hopes. Your dreams are my dreams. Your struggles are my struggles. Your wins are my wins. You are my world, my everything.

Love always,

Your parent