A Letter to my Daughters
Dear Daughters,
I wanted to take a moment and talk to you. Well, not
literally talk to you, but more figuratively. Sit down and let me impart a bit
of my knowledge. I know you are at the age when you think you have it all down
pat but humor me for a bit.
As I was tending the yard, I had an epiphany. Once upon a
time I hated doing any type of housework. It all seemed futile. The grass would
just grow up again. The dishes and laundry would just pile up. It was a
monotony of the same chores over and over each week. I wanted to do something
with my life. I wanted to have a fabulous career and be someone special.
Children do not, necessarily, make someone special. There
are some fabulously special people in the world that do not have children,
either through choice or circumstance. Did you make me special? No. As hard as
that is to believe, I do have a life outside of you. But here is what makes me
special, and one day I hope it makes you special as well, I developed
understanding and empathy.
So here are some lessons I learned that I pass to you. As
you know, the 8th of each month is special to me. It is a reminder that life is
fleeting but the knowledge and memories you leave behind are monumental and
immortal. My parents, grandparents and
friends have left indelible marks on my life. It is especially my parents and
grandparents that have left the greatest. My dad left me the ability to stop
and think. My mom is showing me, every single day, what true love is and how to
be strong when others would crumble.
·
Your job is not what defines you. You define
your job. This may seem confusing but it really all comes down to your ethics.
Everyone answers to someone. While you may at times think a job is beneath you,
it really is not. You are learning something each and every time you go to
work. You are learning how to meet new people. You are learning new things. You
are learning responsibility. Whether it is flipping burgers or running a
billion dollar company...you are defining your job. Never disrespect those
individuals you feel are working dead end jobs or service industry jobs.
Without them, society would cease to function.
·
Tasks you think are a waste of time...actually
do have purpose. I hated doing yard work or housework. Yet I saw my parents
enjoy doing them. Why on earth would anyone like getting dirty or cleaning? I
understand now. It is a task that has a beginning and an end. It is an
accomplishment. Strive for the highest goal you can imagine but keep those
small tasks. Each one checked off is an accomplishment. They may not mean much
at the time but they will be satisfying later.
·
I am not your friend. A parent makes a horrible
mistake the moment they want to be their child's friend. A friend implies that
they will understand and encourage certain behavior and, at the same time,
tolerate certain behavior. Friend's are not responsible for your actions and
are not always going to guide you in the right direction. Get back to me on
that when you are in your 20's. I want your respect. I want your trust. But I
don't want to be your friend. I don't want to know every single thing you are
doing. It would drive me insane. I will later be your friend. I want to
eventually be your friend. But we are not at that point in our lives.
·
One day you will experience grief. You do not
understand why I cry so much at the loss of my father. The loss of my
grandparents. One day I hope you do grieve for me because I certainly do not
want to be left grieving for you. That may be selfish of me but a parent's
worst nightmare is having to see their child out of this world. From the moment
you both came into this world, I was plagued by nightmares of losing you. Every
parent has those thoughts. Strike that. Every GOOD parent has those thoughts.
The "What If's" drive new parents crazy. I once actually panicked at
the thought of a wolf breaking into the house and attacking you. Laugh all you
want now but irrational fears are what drives a parent to be protective. My
heart breaks when you cry but I never want to have mine broken by losing you.
You two mean that much to me. You are my life.
·
Pain is a part of life. There will be times when
pain brings you to your knees. When life seems futile and hopeless. Just
remember that all things fade with time. The wounds that are raw at the moment
will eventually heal and leave a scar. Don't cover the scar. Don't stare at it
daily either but make sure you know it is there. It is a reminder that you are
alive and will keep fighting back.
These are just a few things that I want you to know. You
will make mistakes and that is okay. You will learn. My dad, very often when
growing up, would just look at me and shake his head. When I eventually figured
it out he would say, "Red, now you are being smart. Use your head."
My mom's best advice came to me by watching her and seeing her actions. Her
mantra is, "Just get it done." It is simple but extremely powerful
and effective.
I love you both and hope one day you will understand what I
am trying to say to you. I want you to fulfill your dreams, no matter what they
are. There is nothing that you will ever do that makes me not love you. I may
get angry at times but I always love and support you. You will stumble. You
will fall but hopefully you will have enough of me, your grandparents, your
aunts, cousins, and friends, in you that you will stand back up and keep on
going.
Love,
Shonté (aka Mom)
