Dear Claire,
You're probably thinking by the title of this post that it's going to be about Life Before Claire.
Nope. I can barely remember what that was like!
It's actually about Life Before Cells. Not the tiny ones floating around inside of you! Cell Phones.
I don't know what communication devices are going to be like by the time you're a young adult, but trust me, you don't want to have one with you all the time.
I actually consider myself really lucky because I went to high school and university before everyone and their seven-year old had a cell phone. Believe me, those really were the days.
Why? Because I left my house on a Friday night, crammed into a car with four other friends, and nobody's parents could get a hold of us! It was bliss. You made it home by curfew, parents would ask a few questions, and you could tell them most (okay, some) of the truth. Best part - there was no evidence. There was no cell phone with a GPS being carried around all night. There weren't a hundred pictures that were taken only hours earlier to scroll through. There weren't texts from twenty people to read over. And they couldn't just go check out my Facebook or Instagram to see what I'd really been up to. Freedom!!!
Not only do I love how there was no evidence for my parents to see/read, I loved how there's no evidence for anyone to see/read! High School is a bit of a gong show, and not one that I want myself, or the whole world, to have to re-live with me!
But the absolute best time to not have a cell phone with you at all times? University.
Being able to make some plans with some friends, head out to the bar, and just see what happens is a kind of freedom that is difficult to find these days. Seriously, we would go out with a few people and then just let the night happen. We might run into more friends, we might not. We might decide to leave one place and go to another so we just would. We didn't have to text a bunch of people and let them know.
The best part of that freedom was that we could talk to new people and make new friends because there was nothing holding us back. There wasn't a friend who was going to be angry because we didn't call/text them back. No one was going to see tons of pictures of us the next day and know our every move from the night before. And when things weren't going great with a boyfriend I never received a series of angry texts that would ruin my night.
Ahhh, Freedom.
It really was great, just "being" out in the world, without technology cramping the fun.
So Claire, whatever your communication device is ten and fifteen years from now, I really encourage you to leave it at home when you're out with your friends. It may feel strange, but trust me, you'll never find that kind of freedom again, it only exists for a short time so seize it while you can.
Dear Claire,
Life is not always easy. Things, crazy things, hard things, sad things, and really odd things, are going to be thrown at you. As your mother it is my natural instinct to want to protect you from all of these things.
It's my instinct to want to jump in, rescue you, and save the day!
I will. And I won't.
If you're in immediate danger - I'm there for you kiddo. If you've fallen way down the rabbit hole - I'm there for you kiddo. If you ask for help - I'm there for you kiddo.
But...all humans are wired for struggle. You are meant to fall down, you are meant to have your heart broken, you are meant to get picked last for the team. You are meant to fail a test, come fourth place, and lose friends along the way.
Your brain wants you to get back up, it will help you find love again, and it will encourage you to try again, and it will lead you to new friendships.
Your brain will stop doing all these amazing and wonderful things for you, if I am always there to do them for you. Your brain likes practice. Your brain needs to learn from each of your little struggles so that it is there to help you when the big ones come along.
And the truth is, I can't always be there for you. That's why you have you. And you, are the strongest, most capable, most brave, most "cry for a bit and then pick yourself back up" person ever. I know you're this way because it's genetic. It's in your DNA. You were born strong and everything you'll ever need can be found inside of you.
So I encourage you to embrace the struggles! Meet them at the front door, welcome them in and learn from them. This is the best way to live and the only way to learn. Triumph is not in the easy wins, it lies in the struggle.
Can't wait to watch you overcome,
Love Mom.
Dear Claire,
Today is your very, very, very last day of ever being two years old! When I told you that this morning you just laughed hysterically and than said "I happy Mommy"! I think you're happy because you know we're going out for supper tomorrow night with Grammy and Grampy and you will get a few gifts.
So far, two has been your best year yet. You learned your letters, you took dance lessons, you went ice skating, you went to the zoo and swam at the beach. You made snow angels, went sledding, and can even print some letters! You even got a baby brother - what a busy year you had...i'm tired just thinking about it!
Here are my predictions for 'Claire Age 3'
1. You will be an absolute showstopper in your spring dance recital
2. You will stop crying when we shampoo your hair (please)
3. You will learn to print your name (you've already got the 'C' and 'A' and 'I')
4. You will become even more hilarious with your wild jokes and funny facial expressions
5. You will race down the sidewalk on your tricycle
6. You will swim all by yourself
7. You will continue making Daddy have a time-out on the stairs when he is bad...usually once a day.
8. You will cuddle more with Mommy and not just when you're tired or not feeling well (please)
9. You will help Jack learn to walk, blow a kiss, and sit next to him on the swing set
10. You will keep being my very big, very special, very kind, very funny, and very smart most favourite girl.
Gosh - time flies...look how little you used to be!
Happy Almost Birthday!
Love Mom
Dear Claire,
It has been a long time since I've written to you...I don't know where the past month has gone! I guess with Christmas, New Years and planning your Birthday Party I haven't had time to write. Eeek!
Anyway, on Friday you will turn three years old! Can you believe it? You have been such a great big sister lately and are really starting to play with Jack more and more. You always bring him "his" toys to play with and you're getting better and sharing "your" toys with him too. Lately, you think it's hilarious to let him chase you, but you're way too fast because he can only crawl. Poor Jack!
Mommy thinks that a sibling is one of the best people in the world. You are so lucky to have a brother, I always wanted to have a brother when I was little, but having Aunty Andrea was still pretty good. A sibling will know you better than anyone. Jack will know your good, bad, and your ugly. He will know how to push all of your buttons and will definitely do this throughout your childhood, and probably still sometimes when you're both grown up!
You and Jack may not grow up to be best friends. You may only get together on the holidays or other special events. You may not see eye-to-eye on many topics.
You don't have to, he's still your brother.
You will know his favourite things and all the things he hates. You will know what he does when he's mad and what his different laughs mean when he's happy. You will know all the "bad" things he did as a teenager that mommy and daddy don't even know about. You will know all the things he's great at and you will also know his greatest struggles.
You will share more history, more memories, more experiences, and more DNA with him than almost anyone else you ever spend time with.
So be nice to Jack. Love him, take care of him, laugh with him, tell on him, keep his secrets for him, and be there for him when he needs you. And if you do this, something tells me, he'll do the same for you.
Love you Claire Bear!
Mom
Dear Claire,
Today I thought I'd write and tell you how absolutly adorable you are! You are at such a cute age (almost three) and I think I'd better record some of your cute antics so we never forget them.
One day, about four weeks ago, I called you a 'maniac'. Since then, if I call you a monkey, silly girl, or just about anything else, you correct me and say "no, I'm ma-mi-ac'.
Also, you seemed to have found an imaginary friend named 'Wolf'. Sometimes he's very tiny and you carry him in your pocket. Sometimes he lives with you in the backseat of the car. And sometimes, he gets very big, and runs alongside the outside of the car growling.
Right now you call your little brother 'Jackie' and 'Hubba Hubba'. Mommy calls Jack 'Chubba Chubba', but you just can't seem to make the "ch" sound, and in this instance - it's pretty funny.
You love to crawl and pretend to be a kitty, you'll come "drink milk" out of Mommy's hand and let me pet your head.
You love to "make" us hot tea and always make sure we blow on it to cool it down before sipping.
You love dancing around the room and have just learned to do sommersaults - I think you've done about one hundred of them in the past week.
You like to show Jack everything you can do; yesterday you were very excited to show him that you did up your coat zipper all by yourself.
Do you really have to grow up? I have a feeling the day will come when you won't want Mommy to cuddle you in bed, Jack will drive you crazy, and you won't let Daddy throw you up in the air.
So i'm going to enjoy every moment, because one day you're going to go your own way for a little while, but I'm not worried, because I know that "your way" will lead back to us.
Love you right now and for all the days to come,
Mom
