Well yesterday actually. I was thinking yesterday about how nervous she was two days ago. So, I decided to try and encourage her today. The problem is, she had morning swim practice, which the husband drives her to, and I intended to sleep in this morning. Thus, I wouldn't be able to talk to her unless I call her cell phone during class. The administration at her school tends to frown on this sort of thing.
I wrote a series of letters, one for each class, and sealed them in envelopes, with instructions on which envelope to open in which class. So I give you, my letters to my kid. I hope they make you laugh and inspire you to try to encourage your own kid.
Good
morning, Daughter,
I
know that you’re maybe a little nervous about tonight’s swim meet. That’s ok. A
little nervousness gives us a little adrenaline, and that can help us do things
we ordinarily couldn’t.
Right
now, I want you to just think about being relaxed, maybe sitting alongside a
stream in a nice woods, breathing fresh crisp air, letting the oxygen go to all
your muscles and relaxing them…
WAKE UP! I know, it’s first period, and I probably
shouldn’t have told you to relax.
Now
tell your teacher what’s so funny. She will laugh, too.
Try
to relax this morning, think about your blood flowing to all your muscles,
massaging them with good oxygen and food, taking away all the crappy junk, and
breathing it out into the atmosphere.
I
hope you brushed your teeth.
I
love you,
Mommy
_______________________________________
Hello,
it’s me…
And
no, I’m not going to sing. Ick. Who wants to hear that?
I
just wanted to remind you how hard you work and how awesome and amazing you
are, just as you are.
That
is all.
We
now return you to your regularly scheduled class already in progress.
Xoxo
Mommy
_______________________________________
Fourscore
and seven years ago,
I’m
sad to have to admit that’s all I really know. There are some forefathers in
there, and “of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish
from this earth” is the ending, which in my opinion is the best part.
Anyway…
Did
you eat a little protein before history class?
If not, maybe he’ll let you sneak a few almonds. You know, so your
muscles can begin to prepare.
As
for your brain, occupy it with history right now. Sink in deep, girl, because
President Roosevelt was the SHIT. Ok don’t tell your teacher that. Not out loud, not
in front of the whole class. Tell him privately later. If you want.
You’re
going to do great tonight. I promise you. How can I promise this? You’re my
kid, and I know you, sometimes better than you know yourself. It’s ok you don’t
have to admit that to me.
Love
you,
Mommy
_______________________________________
If
it’s appropriate, give your physics teacher a hug from me. If it’s not, give him a virtual
hug. Although I don’t think he’d mind a real one. I think he misses some
people.
Can
you think of a physics problem calculating the rotational momentum of your arm
in the water as you swim fly?
Me
neither. But I bet your physics teacher can if he tries hard enough.
In
the meantime, make sure you eat some good complex carbs, not a crapton of sugar
right now. Maybe some granola, or something starchy but not white starchy, like
whole wheat bread. Or some peanut butter.
Envision
yourself gliding, slicing, moving through the water as effortlessly as a great
white shark. You ARE the shark, stalking your prey, which is that stuckup girl
from that school we don't like in the lane next to you.
BITE
HER!!! EAT HER FOR LUNCH!
Love,
Mommy
_______________________________________
Hello
little one. Are you reading this in study hall or at lunch? If it’s lunch, tell
your lunch table I say hi, and ask your best friend when she’s going to come over again. I
miss her. If it’s not… oh it doesn’t matter.
I
hope you’re having a good day at school.
You do a lot with your time, you know? Don’t think you don’t. You study
hard, learn a lot, keep up decent grades, and work out 8 times or more a week.
That’s a lot. So be proud. Heck, you even got your room looking AMAZING and we
both know that was no small feat.
You.
Are. WONDERWOMAN. Except don’t wear the outfit, it’s so 70s.
Tonight
is going to be so B.A. And I don’t mean Bachelor of Arts, either.
Xoxo
Mommy
_______________________________________
I
hope you’re not reading this during a math lesson. Math is hard. Put it away
until your teacher is done. Well, tell him I say hello and THEN put it away.
Ok.
What are you working on in math? I liked math, and was good at it until they
added three variables to calculus. I’d be a genius if the world was
2-dimensional.
I’m
not going to talk about the thing that’s probably making you a little
nervous. Just remember what you told me
Tuesday night.
You
can only control you. You can’t control what anybody else does. You can only
put out what you have in y--
STOP
PUTTING THAT JUNK FOOD IN YOUR MOUTH WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU HAVEN’T YOU LEARNED
A SINGLE THING FROM ME
Sorry….
Where was I? Oh yeah. You can only put out what you’ve put in, and that is a
LOT. You’ve worked so hard. You’ve prepared. You’ve controlled what you can
control.
Now
give the rest to God.
Is
it a sin for me to pray the other swimmers have a crappy meet and you win? Ok
yeah you’re probably right. But still….
Love,
Mommy
_______________________________________
It’s
the best class of the day – MEDIA ART, a.k.a. photography. The art teachers can
say whatever they want, you and I both know that photography is where it’s
AT. (Artists apparently don’t know
proper grammar, either.)
Enjoy
your time with your friends. Get your stuff done but don’t be antisocial.
Acknowledge that maybe you’re nervous but don’t let it control you. It’s kind
of like a zit. Ok, you’re there, I see that you’re there, and other people
might, too, but there’s a whole lot more to me than this one zit being
nervous.
Like
how smart you are. And how independent you are. And how strong you are. And how
hard you work. And how every time you get on that starting block, you make me
so, so, so damn proud.
You
really are my hero, Daughter.
Damn
I need a tissue.
Love,
Mommy
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