Things I hope one day to tell my children;
1. "At times the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe us when we say there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough. And what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events, may, in-fact, be the first steps of a journey." (L. Snicket)
2. Don't tear out any of the "why-did-I-write-that" pages of your diary - one day you will be fascinated by your words.
3. If you ever have iffy feelings about anything; trust your gut. Your instincts will keep you safe.
4. Take too many pictures.
5. Licking the spoon won't hurt - it's bloody delicious. Eating the whole bowl will make you sick and you will regret it.
6. You'll always be in a hurry to grow up, but please don't. The future will come in time, but childhood will be over so fast
7. It's okay to stand up for what you think is right, even if everyone else thinks it is wrong
8. Try hard not to worry so much. It causes wrinkles, stomach aches, paranoia, and the worries seldom materialize. And, when you're old enough, stay off of WebMD. No good has ever come from general internet diagnosis
9. Growing up is awkward and everybody feels alone in it at some point. Please don't. Remember you will always be surrounded by people who love you and will hold your hand through any storm.
10. Find your genius... It's in there somewhere I promise
11. Never get too busy making a living, that you forget to make a life
12. Forgive freely, smile always, hug tightly, live with the wonder of a child and the wisdom of an adult - and don't forget that it's good to be silly sometimes
13. When you are sad, remember; there are trees waiting for you to climb them, snowmen for you to build and ice cream for you to taste. There are knees to be scraped from fun adventures and silly things for you to laugh at. Your eyes will sparkle the first time you realize you can walk all by yourself. So much love is waiting for you, so much love.
