Legacy Letters

Since I’ve become a parent, I have looked for ways to engage my kids in conversations so that they will feel comfortable talking to me about any situation in life. My hope has been that if I make myself available to them and show them that I’m interested in their lives, they will open up to me. This year we will officially hit the teen years in our home. With my son turning 13 this fall, we will be facing new joys and challenges. It will be very important that we keep the lines of communication open as we navigate the uncertain waters of the teen years.

I am still seeking ways to communicate better with my son. Now that he’s 12 and in middle school, it seems a bit harder for me to break into his world. However, I do try to make myself available, and I’ve encouraged him to open up when he feels sad or confused about things in his life.

My daughter is another story. She loves to talk and will tell me just about anything. A few weeks ago I found a resource on Pinterest  I’ve implemented with my daughter that I think is forming a strong foundation of communication between the two of us. It is a Mama & Me journal.

Our journal allows us to write “letters” to each other. When I first gave it to her, she was overcome with joy! The idea of writing me on occasion was so exciting to her. My hope is that we’ll keep this up through her teen years and that it will provide a way for us to work through some of the highs and lows of her middle school and high school days.

Since we’ve started exchanging letters, God has opened my eyes to see how He is maturing her in her faith. I’ve seen that in spite of my short comings as a mom, He is still at work in her life preparing her for what He is calling her to do with her life. I won’t share what she has written out of respect for her privacy. But, I have to say how proud I am of her for some of the topics she chooses to write me about. I’m excited to see how God will use this resource to deepen our relationship and to grow and mature both of us.

I would love to hear how you communicate with your child. Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

If you are interested in creating your own Mama & Me journal click here. There is also one for boys.