Dear Children

This letter to my children is part of the mamablogga group writing project.

Dear children,

I worry about the life we’ve brought you into. I worry that, as your grandmother says, “you have lives in three countries, but only two feet.” I worry thatI don’t do enough to protect this glorious planet we’ve all seen so much of. I worry that I have to be too many things to too many people and have to do too much in a day to give you what you don’t know that you need (yet).

But stronger than all of these worries and concerns is a profound love for you both that I have learned to accept without question. That love comes with a thankfulness that you came to us, with joy that you are part of all that your ancestors have done, and with a fresh hope for our future.

Of all the things I seek to do with my life, being your mother is most important to me. While I won’t let anyone tell me how I should do it or what I should be in order to do it, I know that I have been reshaped and my priorities refocussed to make room for you to have your own choices, opportunities and goals.

It has been hard to learn the difference between what I can and cannot do for you, what you can and will do for yourselves and what none of us control. I am not a religious person, but every night I stroke the hair on your heads and beg our God to keep you healthy and strong and safe from harm.

So, let me apologise now for everything I have gotten wrong and the mistakes I have yet to make. Please understand that my heart is in the right place with you two at its core. I hope we’ll be able to figure most things out together. I cannot say that our lives together will always be easy, but they will be interesting. And, I hope, long.

Love,

Your mother