Letters to your children

[rhinochopig]

I was asking my father about what it was like to be a dad before my son was born - his thoughts and feelings at the time. He couldn't really remember.

I've therefore decided to write a letter to my son (now 6months) for either when he becomes a dad, or when he's 18 - haven't decided which yet. I mentioned this to my wife and she's decided to do the same.

It's been a really nice experience to capture ones thoughts and feelings about becoming a dad, especially as I'm likely to forget them all as I get older, more hackneyed and disillusioned.

Has anyone else done this? I would recommend it. I know I'd love to read a letter to me now from when my father was my age.

[loafer123]

Nice idea.

When we moved house across the country when I was 10 (many, many, many years ago!) we stayed in a hotel on the way and my family (6 of us) wrote letters to ourselves on our hopes, fears and expectations, to be opened 15 years later. The contents were varyingly interesting, scary and funny...!

[sday12]

Dear Son,

I love you dearly, and have had an extra 5 days off work since your arrival.

Apart from your constant crying/my inability to go to the pub/have any type of social life, I am having the time off my life.

I always thought sleep was overated.

Next time you st your pants, be sure to awaken me, I have very little else to do.

Yours

Daddy.

[Dino D]

Great idea.

[HellDiver]

Sounds a bit queer.

[lazyitus]

Sounds a good idea.

Can you send me a copy that I can show my kids when they get older because I can't be arsed doing it myself but love the concept.

[Mr Gearchange]

HellDiver said:

Sounds a bit queer.

Yes having children is really queer

[Cara van man]

I like the idea of this.

I already have a letter prepared for my daughter to read/keep in case anything happens to me.

[Red the Fraggle]

Many years ago while rooting around I found a notebook that contained various letters writen to me by my mum. She has a heart condition and has had open heart surgery a couple of times. The letters were written through various stages of my life with at times,when I was born, starting school,the time I ran away etc. I think the idea was to give for it to be given to me in the event of her death to help me with my child and maybe to try & understand the things she did.

I dread the day I recieve it but its also nice to know it there

[Mr Gearchange]

My wife bought me a book to to fill in for my lad (10 months)
Each page has it's own topic:

What where you like as a child?
What did you do at school?
Where did you go on holiday?
How did you meet my mum?

It's a lovely sentiment - wish my dad had done something like that for me - would have give me an insight into the man.
I plan to fill it in and present it to him when he's old enough to understand and appreciate it.

[sday12]

Mr Gearchange said:

HellDiver said:

Sounds a bit queer.

Yes having children is really queer

No, I think he means, y'know a bit 'gay', not 'gay'

[HellDiver]

Exactly. If I were an 18 year old I wouldn't want a letter my Dad wrote when I was a baby.

[mr brightside]

sday12 said:

Dear Son,

I love you dearly, and have had an extra 5 days off work since your arrival.

Apart from your constant crying/my inability to go to the pub/have any type of social life, I am having the time off my life.

I always thought sleep was overated.

Next time you st your pants, be sure to awaken me, I have very little else to do.

Yours

Daddy.

I've got my letter now, spot on!

[Penny-lope]

I wrote a few letters for my son when he was first born....they are tucked away in his baby box, along with his scan photo's, first baby grow and lots of other odds and sods. But if am honest, I have no idea what I wrote.

[Gargamel]

HellDiver said:

Exactly. If I were an 18 year old I wouldn't want a letter my Dad wrote when I was a baby.

You might if he 'wasn't around' when you got to eighteen ?

[Ray Singh]

Im writing my girls a book outlining my life.
It has a brief early history of my life, and then i am continuing the book with specific events as the grow. Im adding pictures as i go too.

Hopefully it will help them to understand thier history (and father) long after im gone.

[ShadownINja]

Great idea. But give it to him when he brings his first girlfriend home and get him to read it out loud. Also, incorporate the lines, "You've done a really impressive poop in your nappy so now I have to stop to change you, wash you and talc your botty. Love, Dad."

[dirty boy]

HellDiver said:

Exactly. If I were an 18 year old I wouldn't want a letter my Dad wrote when I was a baby.

I wish my Dad had done something like that. I'm going to do it. I'll write my thoughts and let them have it when I think they're old enough. 18 is too young yes, but when they're expecting, I think they'll appreciate it.

Superb idea.

[V8mate]

Cara van man said:

I like the idea of this.

I already have a letter prepared for my daughter to read/keep in case anything happens to me.

Yeah I read it. Keeping all the cash inside the caravan's tyres isn't the best idea you've had.

[clonmult]

mr brightside said:

sday12 said:

Dear Son,

I love you dearly, and have had an extra 5 days off work since your arrival.

Apart from your constant crying/my inability to go to the pub/have any type of social life, I am having the time off my life.

I always thought sleep was overated.

Next time you st your pants, be sure to awaken me, I have very little else to do.

Yours

Daddy.

I've got my letter now, spot on!

Mine will be edited - gotta remove the "extra 5 days off". Paternity leave - great idea, but the money you get makes it almost worthless.