You won’t believe how much weight she’s lost this past year!~ Loads of love, M
I can’t wait till April, when I can see you again.~ Tons of hugs, V
How I miss receiving a handwritten letter through the post! That twinge of anticipation, succeeded by uncontrolled glee when you see your name, scrawled by a loved one by hand, is pure, veritable joy!
Back in the day, before the advent of the now-ubiquitous e-mail, I used to write and receive letters, birthday cards, little love notes and secret messages scribbled in haste. I had the worst handwriting possible, but that never stopped me from writing, nor did it , in any way, stem the flow of responses from my loyal letter-writing companions.
My days Β spent in a college dormitory were made better , as I waited for each Friday, to bring me that reassuring letter from mom. My years away from good friends were soothed by the regular rounds of witty and naughty updates from them. My few weeks apart from my beloved were enhanced by his faithful, regular and uncharacteristically long letters, which I have preserved to this day!
As I watch Gy grow up in the gadget era, I realise that there is one thing that she will never know.
She will never know the fidgeting impatience of a 10-year-old, hopping from one foot to the other, waiting for the postman to arrive with the birthday cards.
She will never experience the heart-stopping moment where she opens the door to a telegram being delivered.
And she will never sense that feverish eagerness of young love, exchanging letters of longing while the two hearts are apart.
All she needs to do now is click on a text message or an e-mail. Don’t get me wrong; I am all for change. I believe in saving the environment and using lesser paper, as a consequence.
But I don’t want her to lose her sense of wonder. I want her to feel that moment of absolute joy, when she gets an unexpected, handwritten note. I want her to touch and savour the written word, as it stares back at her from a loving sheet of paper.
And, so, every once in a while, I slip a note into her bag, her pencil-case or her snack box, making sure she is in the dark Β about the whole plan.
The day I sent this note, she came home, beaming, and gave me a bear hug. She said that ‘everyone at her table’ wanted to read the note.
I know that letter-writing is a dying art. I know that we have very little time to sit and write things by hand. And yet, if we can make the effort, every now and then, maybe, just maybe, we can carve a bigger piece in our child’s happy memories.
Aww this is too sweet!!
Wow, that was fast! I haven't even shared the post yet π Thanks, Tulika. I was thinking of this today, when I actually sat and wrote out some homework exercises for Gy this evening.
This is so sweet! I used to love it when my mom left me notes and the art of writing by hand and mailing letters is sadly becoming extinct. I agree about the conservation, but I also love a real letter.
Deanna
http://mymutedvoice.com
I love leaving notes for my kids, too. This past winter I had an illness that prevented me from traveling with them on our annual road trip to see my husband's family. While home alone for 6 days I was really bored so I cut out silly shapes and wrote corresponding messages on them (An ant with the message “it bugs me when we are apart”, etc) and now I put them in their lunch boxes once a week. Those are always the days I get the best hugs and kisses when they get home from school!
I love that your daughter loved the note. That's the difference between boys and girls I think. I recently sent my son a note and when I asked if he had seen it (because he said nothing about it), he said he had seen it and that I don't need to do that ever again. Kids…
Ah I'm a sucker for handwritten notes, and I'm sad my kids won't know the joys of waiting for letters to come in the mail. I like that you're making sure your daughter knows the pleasures of a handwritten note. π
I find actual cards and notes so very special. In this age of the evite, I have tried to use REAL invitations, that require REAL replies. I used to leave notes in my son's lunch, but I've stopped. Maybe it's something that needs to start up again. π
I used to love getting care packages in college. And writing notes. It's great that your daughter appreciates it. Michelle is right, boys are different (at least most of them)!
You are awesome. Please continue to be as thoughtful as you are. π
Unfortunately, I can't think of any situation wherein I could demand such notes from you or for that matter anyone else these days! π heheheee.
So sweet! I used to write notes and cards to my friends and family, especially my grandmother, all of the time. Now I have a box of leftover stationary and cards that may never be sent. Your post makes me want to rethink that. π
My mom used to put notes in my lunch every day. Somehow, I've never thought to do that for my own son. Thanks for bringing it all back.
It's a very sweet post. I agree letter wring and receiving was a great thing.
Now I do this by posting quick notes on their facebook pages, and they still love it but if they were young I love your idea of notes in the lunchbox!
That is super sweet! My oldest can finally read I can't wait to do this! Until recently they've just been pictures in the lunch boxes. And I'm a terrible artist! Ha ha
Thanks Deanna! Yes, I still dream that I will get a letter through the post one day. Now, all I get are bills …sigh.
What a great idea! 'Bugs me when we are apart'. That is a classic. I would love for you to share more ideas!
Ha ha ha! Interestingly, another friend with a son, said the same thing on my facebook page today. Apparently, she is only allowed to put in notes with 'Dino' facts and nothing 'weird' or 'mushy'.
What little I can do, I love doing π Hope these things stay with her for a long time…
How sweet! I like the fact that you use real invites. Yep, totally need to restart the lunchbox notes. They are always a hit, or at least I think they are π
I am happy that she does too. I have also resorted to putting in reminders about her homework on those notes. Those, she hides from her friends π
I actually got the idea from another food blogger, who mentioned this in one of her posts. I tried it out a few times and it has always been a hit! And what note would you like from me? Ask and I shall try to comply π
Why don't you surprise someone with a card through the mail? Good way to use those leftover cards π
You totally should π And you are welcome!
Thank you Ranu π
Thanks Aisha π
As am I. I suck at writing too, which is why I stick to all CAPS when writing. My cursive is worse than a cat trying to scratch its way across the paper!
I needed this touch of sweetness today.
So very adorable! You're right about kids today not knowing the joy of getting a letter in the mail. So sad…
That was very sweet. I used to do that for my hubby but after reading your blog did it for my 6 yr old girl….just waiting for reaction this afternoon π
Love this! So sweet! I remember how I anticipated letters and packages in college too. My aunt still makes homemade valentines for me (at 35 years old) and now my children. They just got theirs in the mail today, and their tiny toddler faces lit up. It's too bad it's a dying art indeed.
I know. It really hit home when she asked me what outfit a postman wears!
Lovely! Let me know how she reacted!
This is just too sweet! A note in the child's lunchbox, should I try that?
Yes, you absolutely must! It's very satisfying π
Shailaja, your post brought back old memoriesβ¦ I have saved themβ¦ cards from my best friend, letters we wrote to each other when she moved to boarding school, my first longest ever letter (in a 100 page notebook) to my then boyfriend-now husband π Those were lovely days. Thanks for this post π
A reason they're called the good old days, right? Happy that you liked it, Gauri π
Glad I could brighten up your day, Christie!
The thrill of opening packages will never fade! And how cute is your aunt! Making those valentines π
Letter writing is definitely a pleasurable activity that everyone should indulge in! I hope she also starts sending small notes like that back to you and her dad!!
She does write little notes, but mostly to her friends right now π
Nice to connect with you as well! Ha, the note-passing still exists π At least in the lower grades.
So sweet. Nah. It must be a surprise no? No pressure! *evil grin*
Just pulling your leg…..I'll go blackmail the people I get to meet. π
Ha ha ha.. trust you to do that π
How sweet! Letters are indeed so special. Till I was a 11 or 12 year old girl I used to get cards for my birthdays. I never used to get any other mail as telephones had communication easier. How I waited for those birthday cards. I still have few of those. And then text messages and emails started. For my last b'day my friend sent me a handmade greeting card and trust me that was the best gift I ever received on my birthday π
So beautiful! I think I should start doing this for my boys too.
what a wonderful idea!!!! Who wouldnt want to find a secret note like that! You are one awesome mother.
I still have the handmade cards made by my daughter's friends for the birthday last year. Amazing what pleasures we get out of the simplest of things!
I am sure they'll love it, Pratibha π
He he he. Not sure if I am an awesome mother, but it certainly feels wonderful to see her smile on those days, Red π
Awwww!! When I packed my kids school lunches every now and then I would slip a note in. I got the same reaction. The hugs when they came home were well worth the effort. β₯
Awww! That is the sweetest thing a mom can do for her babies! <3 And, yes, letter writing is a dying art, which the future generations will never know about. We sure were lucky, weren't we, S? I remember, long back, I too tried slipping in a note in hubby's tiffin. But, then stopped coz he said he had to give his tiffin to his colleagues if he had to go to meet his clients for lunch. π