My daughter is graduating preschool in a few weeks, I have decided to get her a book as a little present. (Someday by Alison McGhee) For those that have never heard of it, its a story from a moms point of view watching their child grow.
My question is, I would like to write something from me to my daughter inside that I can read now to her or that she may reflect back on when she gets older or grown that is meaningful from this point in her life. I want it to include something about finishing her first year of school, being proud, and about her future years to come school-wise. Obviously it needs to come from my heart but maybe some of you are good at piecing something together.
Thank you all so much for responding! This was exactly the type of help I needed!! Thanks again!
Why not talking about "finishing a chapter in her life". About knowing that with the end of every chapter, there is a new one starting. That she "writes the book" and that you have and will continue to enjoy watching her as she tells HER story.
Don't be so hard on yourself, it doesn't have to be either lengthy or elegant, all that matters is that you wrote it in your own handwriting!
I agree with Callie about writing something and asking for editing/revision recommendations.....only because the most important thing is that it's coming from your heart. Even if you're not the best wordsmith, the fact that they're your words mean more in the end than how articulate it comes across.
If I were doing it personally, I'd include some information about some of the accomplishments this year - learning to write her name, making a special friend, growing 4" so you can both recall what the particular accomplishments of the year have been.
Write something....your random thoughts about what you want to say and then it would be easier for us to help you put it together. I help my husband rewrite his emails and papers all the time.
That's a really good idea. I may do that for my daughter!
I had my husband's fellow Marines write letters to him when he retired and they had a VERY difficult time doing it until I suggested they write about him instead of to him. It worked great. They all churned out really nice stuff!
So, try writing your rough draft as if you are writing about your daughter (use her name and the pronoun "she"). Write as though you are speaking to her teacher about how proud you are of her. Don't worry about it sounding perfect, just get your ideas out (write as though you are speaking).
After you get all you ideas out, then you can go back and change the pronouns to "you" and polish it up to sound "perfect". I think you'll feel better about it if you do it that way than if someone else gives you the words to use.
What a sweet idea, by the way.
Becky,
I think this is a wonderful idea. A book with an inscription is timeless and something your daughter will treasure all her life. Having a done a lot of writing, I suggest that you first just write down all the things that come to mind about your daughter and her school experience, every thought, word, phrase that sums up what you are feeling inside. Go back and pull out those prases and thoughts that strike you the most and begin to put them in order, paraphrase and shorten them. An inscription is just that, not a letter, just a well-phrased thought that conveys a world of meaning. I'm sure that no matter what you write down, your love and pride will come through loud and clear. Another suggestion, keeping a journal of your day-to-day activities, thoughts and stories about your daughter is a treasure in itself for you. I have kept them for years. Not only does it improve writing confidence, but it is a record of your days raising your children. Re-reading my journals from years ago helps me relive those days once again.
S.
Someday, you'll look back through the pages of this book, and hear my voice, telling you how very proud I am of you on this day, my little graduate.... I would mention things she brought home from school, projects, field trips, things she learned. Someday, you'll look back through the pages of this book, and hear my voice, telling you how very proud of you I will always be.... Then maybe tell her the things you hope for her to accomplish, school wise/ just in general. Hope this helps....
What a great idea! Could you include something about you, as her mom, wanting to give her roots and wings and pre-school was the year that she tested out her little wings for the first time? I'm getting misty just thinking about it. Very cute idea.
Oh boy.
I am a truly sentimental sap, but if you are agonizing over graduating from pre-school, (they have graduations for that?), you will be an emotional wreck by the time she graduates from the second grade.
When my daughter graduated from high school, I was beside myself with emotion. I, along with other parents, paid to have baby photos and an inscription in the senior year book. It was a complete surprise to her. She treasures it.
Just write that you love her and you're proud of her and whatever else you're feeling.
The nice thing about it is that someday when she looks back, she won't look on the perfection or anything else.....it's something that you wrote because it's what you were feeling. On that day. Your own words. Your own writing.
The beauty of it is that there is no right or wrong. You can't mess it up.
Make a draft or two. Make changes before you put it in the book if you want. When she's old enough to share it with her own kids, she won't even think about the time you worried about what to say, nor should she. The words can speak for themselves.
My kids have books inscribed by their grandparents...my grandparents.
Just speak from your heart and date it.
Know that you will have many, many other things to write for her.
You sound like a very wonderful, loving and sentimental mom, how can you make a mistake with that combination?
Very best wishes!
This is a lovely idea , and one that I am sure she will look back on when she is grown up and really appreciate!.....you could say something along the lines of : You are so proud to be her mom , and although she is growing faster than we like them to , you cannot wait for all the enjoyment that is yet to come with each school year milestone. (I also struggle with wording things in the way I want them to sound) , but this may give you some idea and hopefully another poster will be able to add to this.
