Latest / 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids. / Writing Love Letters to Our Children

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Writing Love Letters to Our Children · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another episode of the Five Minute Parenting Podcast.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Karen Ferguson, wife, mom, grandmom, and children's book author with a background in K-8 education and a passion for equipping parents to raise confident and God-confident kids.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: In this podcast, we'll cover parenting practices from both a practical view and a biblical view.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Our goal is to help you raise kids with a positive, godly self-image so they can become all they were created to be.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: I know you're busy, so we'll keep it short.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take just five minutes and dive in.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: Have you ever thought of writing love letters to your children?
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: If you don't like to write, it might sound pretty silly and even outdated in our YouTube and Insta Reel-driven world.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, who writes love letters anymore, right?
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: Love text, maybe, with lots of emojis.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: Well, I'm a writer, and so this came very natural to me.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: It was one of my favorite things to do for my girls all through their school years.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: And it's something they really appreciated and looked forward to.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, some of you moms might be meticulous about updating those baby books.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: And hats off to you because that was not me.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: In the hustle and bustle of life, you know, mixed family, mixed with work and volunteer responsibilities, I'd often forget to update the books.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: And baby books certainly are another great way to shower our children with attention, but in reality, how often do they look at their baby books throughout the year?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: Starting an informal practice of writing regular love letters is a great way to keep it fresh and personal throughout the year.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: So here are three ways I did it.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: I put letters in their lunchbox or on their napkins, simple words of encouragement for the day, or even just a short and sweet, I love you, have a great day with a smiley face.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: This is something they told me they looked forward to seeing during their busy and sometimes overwhelming days of public school life.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: I posted refrigerator messages.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we had a whiteboard on our fridge for important reminders, and I would include I love you messages and other encouraging words and Bible verses.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: It was a great way to brighten all of our days as we went about our routines.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: And then my favorite, writing letters at the beginning and ending of their school years.
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: This looked like a page or two long letter that validated their value and offered words and a prayer of encouragement for a successful and blessed school year.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: It also looked like honoring their hard work and achievements at the end of the school year, but it really was about more than success, accomplishments, or what they'd done that year.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: It was about who they were becoming, as I made a point to identify their character and spiritual growth.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: It was also a great way to keep track of important milestones and events that can be so easy to forget.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: A good job comment is important, no doubt, but letters go a step further by providing a tangible, teachable lesson about how we've seen our kids demonstrate godly character qualities.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: It's another opportunity to help shape and reinforce positive behavior.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: You know, the Bible talks a lot about the power of our words.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 16.24 says, gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 25:11 says, a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 18, 21 says, death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: Scientific data backs this up.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_00: Our words are powerful and create lasting impressions on our kids, either for good or bad.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Positive words shape their security, their identity, and confidence, and can help calm anxiety.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Writing love letters to your kids may seem like such a small gesture that won't make much difference, but this simple act can have an astounding impact on your child's self-worth as they realize mom and dad took the time to write something heartfelt to them personally.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: It's just one more way we can show our kids they are seen, valued, and loved.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: So I encourage you to start a trend and take the time to write love letters to your children.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to be a writer and you don't even have to like to write.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: Keep it simple but consistent.
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: Decide how you want to do it and how often you will do it.
• 4:31
  SPEAKER_00: Then stick with it.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Put reminders on your phone calendar.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_00: And as you do, here are some things to keep in mind.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Date the notes.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: I wish I would have done this more on my print photos.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: This way our kids can remember their ages and seasons of life.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Keep it short and sweet.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes less is really more when it comes to writing.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: Write from the heart.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Focus on specific personality traits, character qualities, and talents you love about your child.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: And say no to perfectionism.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's okay if your handwriting is messy.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't have to be perfect.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: There's something really special about seeing the imperfect handwriting of those we love.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: If you choose to start a love letter writing practice for your kids, I have no doubt they will be blessed and encouraged.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: These letters will become cherished memories and mementos of your love.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now, where to put them all?
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: I recommend a special box, or if you're tight on space, take photos every so often of these letters and compile them into a photo book.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: Check out chat books for that.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's one of my favorite places to collect photos.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll have that link in the show notes.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_00: Well, that's it for today.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening and be sure to come back next week for another episode of Five Minute Parenting.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Have a blessed week.