Dear Future Baby,
So, I've been thinking a lot about your future and my past. When I was little, we didn't have a lot. Now, that doesn't mean that I wasn't a happy kid or I didn't have a good life, but it was not easy. We didn't have air condition frequently, I didn't have my own room or bed for a while, our ceiling would fall down and we would put up black trash bags to cover the holes. But I was a happy kid. My mom, and grandparents filled a lot of holes. I didn't know that we were "poor" or that we lived in the "ghetto." All I knew was that my mommy, Momo and Popo loved me and my brother so much. I remember always smiling and laughing and getting hugs and kisses.
But I do remember a lot of Ramen noodles, and lights going out because bills weren't paid on time. I remember waking up with ants in my hair and sweating because the air condition went out...again. My mom worked very hard all her life to provide for us. I remember every late night she was at HEB, and when she worked two jobs when I was in high school. Your grandma is a very hard worker. And I will never be able to pay her back for everything she's done for me.
Now this type of childhood did several things for me. It made me have humility. I didn't get everything I wanted right away, but I had everything I needed. It made me a hard worker. Seeing my mom work and work just to provide for me and my brother made me appreciate her. It made me have empathy for others. I always try to be there for others.
So, I've been thinking a lot about your future and my past. When I was little, we didn't have a lot. Now, that doesn't mean that I wasn't a happy kid or I didn't have a good life, but it was not easy. We didn't have air condition frequently, I didn't have my own room or bed for a while, our ceiling would fall down and we would put up black trash bags to cover the holes. But I was a happy kid. My mom, and grandparents filled a lot of holes. I didn't know that we were "poor" or that we lived in the "ghetto." All I knew was that my mommy, Momo and Popo loved me and my brother so much. I remember always smiling and laughing and getting hugs and kisses.
But I do remember a lot of Ramen noodles, and lights going out because bills weren't paid on time. I remember waking up with ants in my hair and sweating because the air condition went out...again. My mom worked very hard all her life to provide for us. I remember every late night she was at HEB, and when she worked two jobs when I was in high school. Your grandma is a very hard worker. And I will never be able to pay her back for everything she's done for me.
Now this type of childhood did several things for me. It made me have humility. I didn't get everything I wanted right away, but I had everything I needed. It made me a hard worker. Seeing my mom work and work just to provide for me and my brother made me appreciate her. It made me have empathy for others. I always try to be there for others.
So why am I saying this...I am saying this because as your mommy I want you to have these traits too. You are not going to grow up in a house where the air condition breaks, where there are holes in the ceiling covered with black trash bags. You are going to have your own room with your own bed. You are not going to grow up like me at all.
But that's the point, right? We have worked so hard to provide you with everything we didn't have growing up. This worries me a little. Can you be a good person without going through hardships? Will we spoil you because you are going to have more in life? How can we make you have humility and empathy for others? We don't want you to struggle, but without struggle can you be a good person?
I can't answer those questions. Our main goal as parents is to make sure you are a person people want to be around. That you are caring and loving. That you think of others and that you give. I want you to have every advantage in life, but not to be stuck up. Not to think that you can just be and get everything you want. The world does not work like that. I hope and pray that we instill the same traits that your dad and I have gotten from your grandmas and your great grandparents.
All in all, just don't be a douche bag.
We love you very much.
Love, Mom and Dad
But that's the point, right? We have worked so hard to provide you with everything we didn't have growing up. This worries me a little. Can you be a good person without going through hardships? Will we spoil you because you are going to have more in life? How can we make you have humility and empathy for others? We don't want you to struggle, but without struggle can you be a good person?
I can't answer those questions. Our main goal as parents is to make sure you are a person people want to be around. That you are caring and loving. That you think of others and that you give. I want you to have every advantage in life, but not to be stuck up. Not to think that you can just be and get everything you want. The world does not work like that. I hope and pray that we instill the same traits that your dad and I have gotten from your grandmas and your great grandparents.
All in all, just don't be a douche bag.
We love you very much.
Love, Mom and Dad