I remember so vividly the first time Stacy wrote her name. I think she was 3, and she'd been trying very hard to write letters. One day, she brought her plastic pink IKEA piggy bank to me, with her name written in marker on the belly. I was so happy for her. I cried. She then proceeded to write Mom, Dad and Pippi, and then, "I love you." If I'd have saved every love note I received from her, I'd have filled our Manhattan kitchen. Some of her last minutes in the car were spent painstakingly writing a letter begging her grandmother to come and visit her in New Jersey.
Pippi has followed in her sister's foot steps, writing frequent love notes, enough probably to fill 2 Manhattan kitchens. Who couldn't feel loved with Pippi around, after all? And she writes with such feeling. This year, she experimented with swirls on her letters when she discovered that was how Santa Claus wrote. "I love you" really took up a lot of space during that phase. Pippi also composed her first note to a friend: "Dear R, I like you. I want to be your friend. Will you be my friend? Love, Pippi" She's also written me, "Dear Mom, I love you to the moon and back."
Once in awhile Pippi writes a letter to Prairie Smoke. She always gets a prompt reply with stickers and cute stories of Praire Smoke's life. Those letters are keepers.
Occasionally Pippi gets notes from The House Fairy. She gets these notes about as often as she makes her bed. They come with a little treat.
Today in church, Rebecca got a letter from a counselor in the primary presidency. She turned to me after she had read it and said, "Mom! This was a good letter. It said lots of nice things about me and how I help in primary and how I am a good big sister to Bardo."
May we all use writing for it's core purpose: to express our love to one another. Have a great week, and I love you guys.
10 comments:
I think you had direct connection to my heart today as I have recently had a not-so-good experience with writing. It can hurt and be misunderstood and I am so glad for the emphasis on the positive and all the good it can bring to those around us. I love you too!
What a beautiful (and, I might add, well-written) entry.
We love you too. Will you tell the house fairy to come to my house next? Thanks :)
This has really inspired me to act on the promptings I get to write people and tell them I love them more often.
You are a great woman, SW! I love you.
What a sweet reminder to leave love notes everywhere! I needed that. Just the other day I was talking to another niece on the phone and she asked me to send her a note saying I love her. I think I will do it right now!
What an inspirational and lovely entry. I can imagine that your blog on love letters will inspire a wave of love letter writing!
What a great post! The written word is a wonderful thing.
Offspring has just recently become a writer and it delights me. There is nothing quite as sweet as a note from a child.
Written words are important. They can be saved to be read and enjoyed again and again. Like everything they can hurt or heal. I'm glad Pippie is learning about the good written words can do.
I will admit that many notes from June make their way to the garbage, but after reading this entry, I think I will make a special effort to save them, even if they do need their own room! I think you are such a wonderful mother. And a good writer, your posts are almost magical when you talk about your family. I always check your blog just for the sheer enjoyment of something good to read!
At our District Conference, Elder Evans was visiting to call a new district presidency and told us to write letters to our kids, so they can be read over and over again. Thanks for a great entry.
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