Love Starts Within

* Activity: Letter to Self *

"There was a whiff of Magic in the air as he walked into the room, the light shone through the far window enhancing his aura. A crooked smile held my gaze on his face awakening a longing to feel how soft and warm they would feel. His eyes drew me in further as they locked on to mine; I forgot to breath. We lost our connection for only a moment allowing me to shy away from the feelings that washed over me at that moment; I caught my breath. I could feel the blush rising up my cheeks, but I had to look again…."

It happens differently for every couple but the result is always the same. When and Mummy and a Daddy love each other very much, their love becomes too big for just the two of them. This Love spreads in to another person (three extra people in my case). The love that you share with your charge is different than any other love that you would have ever experienced. This is a small part of you out in the world. Take that in for a moment and acknowledge that you are an amazing parent. You created another human or two!

You have a moment here and there to reflect on what you experienced as a child. You need to juggle between being a decent human being, a parent, a Partner and all the minutia that comes along your individuality. You learn that you and your partner have so many different layers that work together in their own way. Showing a united front to your charges even though you don't always 100% agree can be a real challenge.

You are bombarded with so much information that you feel as though you are about to burst. Friends and family who have been there before you insist on pushing their opinions and guidance on to you and your partner. They are your friends for a reason though, you see something in them that inspires you and could help you grow. Your family have the fest of intentions, even though you may not see it sometimes. Take it all with a grain of salt, their experiences are different to yours and what you want for your child/ren. These opinions of others can creep in at times and knock your fragile balance out of whack.

The love that made your child is still there, it has grown and blossomed. The fragile beauty of that first meeting is safely locked away in your memories. You feel it when you watch your child sleeping or playing quietly. It peaks its head around the corner of your subconscious just before you go to sleep some nights. Little treasured memories always stay together.

This activity is something that will help you look into the mirror. It is simply a letter to yourself.

You will need a pen, paper and an envelope or alternatively you can write it on the computer.

You write the date at the top of the page and start the letter with...

Dear (Insert Name Here),

I am (insert an honest description of yourself)

There is no limit to this letter, you can keep your message as long or short as you want it to be.

Think about all the things that make you an individual all of your likes and dislikes at the moment. What sets you apart from the rest? Remind yourself what you have been through to get to where you are today.

Remember to consider all the aspects of your life As a...

Person - What hobbies and interests do you have? What three things can you compliment yourself right now? How do you feel about where your life is headed?

Partner - What are your three favourite things about your partner? What is the first thing that comes to your head when you hear your partners name? What do you do to make your partner happy?

Parent - What do you think about when you look at your children? What parenting choices have you made in the past that you are proud of? What do you need to work on in yourself?

Extra things to think about...

What Goals do you have for the near future?

Is there anything that you would like to get out of your head and on to the page?

Where do you see youself in 5/10 years?

Make sure that you sign the bottom with love ...

Once you have finished the letter put it in a sealed envelope and keep it somewhere safe or with someone you can trust. You can even email it to Parenting chips and I will make sure that no-one else sees it until you give permission or ask for it back.

I hope that you enjoyed the activity.

Thank you for stepping up and looking in the mirror.

I plan on opening mine in a couple of years.

Suggested Chipping

To congratulate the kids for writing their letters make sure that you give them a reward chip or two.

See if that will help them qualify for a voucher.