While looking through my files for some information on Hubby’s family that a member had requested, I came upon copies of “Letters to our Children”. These were written for Christmas gifts one year and I decided to alter them a bit and share them.
“Dear First Born,
You came to us in December and spent the next 18 years in our home. The first born in a family brings delight but some experts tell us we experiment in raising the first child. I know your Daddy and I were so young and so inexperienced in child rearing, that those years may have been more difficult than necessary. But as you learned when your first child was born, they do not come with instructions. You just give a lot of love and learn as you go.
Those 18 years in our home were happy ones for us and I hope that many memories were made during this time that today are treasures for you just as they are for us. As you grew and changed, so did our home, but our love was always there.
As you grew older and we seemed to be not as lenient as some of your friends’ parents, it was because we loved you. We knew what was out there in that big world and we wanted to protect you from it even though we also realized we could never do so. At some point, we would have to let you go and find out for yourself what was out there.
We carried you to church from the time you were born. (You were about two weeks old) and tried to instill in you a love of God and a desire to be one of His children. We watched you participate in church and school activities and were so proud of all your accomplishments.
Then one day you met that perfect someone and decided the time was right to start a home of your own. We were reluctant to let you go, not because we did not trust your judgment in the choice of a mate, but because we realized that no longer would you be ours alone.
You two soon blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren and now they are making you happy as you did us and continue to do so.
Time passes rapidly and often we are too busy to express our love and appreciation for you.
But just remember, First Born, that you were the first culmination of the love your Daddy and I shared.”
Fannie More lives in Shongaloo.