Have you ever heard of a Mom & Me journal? It's a secret diary between you and your daughter (or son). I don't remember where I first heard of it, to be honest; but, you can find simple composition notebooks decorated by numerous moms on Pinterest. This is a post I referred to myself, and here is another for those who want instructions to make a prettier version.
I decided to make one for Shimmer and I on one of my favorite paper and stationery websites, minted, after receiving a promo code email. They have so many beautiful designs. I was looking for something simple, that could be personalized with the captions I had in mind to focus our purpose.
The notebook I settled on was from their wedding line, but I thought the simple hand-drawn heart and doodling accents were perfect for a 10 year old girl.
I received the journal a few weeks ago, but it's taken me some time to figure out how I wanted to start it. Being a recovering perfectionist, I wanted to come up with something that was worthy of the first page and at the same time explain to Shimmer my hopes for the journal. I want my daughter to know that she can ask me anything, share her hopes and fears, joys and sorrows with me and, of course, her Heavenly Father. As she approaches her teens, I thought this would be a great way to open the door for her to ask or tell me things on paper that she might be too embarrassed to talk about face to face. I love that it will encourage her to express herself better as a writer. But most of all, these letters back and forth will help me as a mother to know what is going on in her pretty little head, strengthen our bond and become a keepsake just between us.
In the hopes of encouraging other moms to write back and forth with your children, I have Shimmer's permission to share my opening letter for those of you who might have trouble starting without some help:
Dear "Shimmer",
Now you are TEN! I’m not sure how that is possible. It seems like yesterday your Daddy and I just
brought you home from the hospital, or sent you off to kindergarten when you
were five. Now, another five years has
gone by, and you are a growing into the best daughter we could ever have prayed
for.
There are so many things mommy
would like to teach you, and so many things you will have to learn for
yourself. I want you to know that I am
trying my best. I know without God’s
help I will never be good enough or the mother you deserve. I am impatient, I raise my voice, and I like
things just so. I am sorry. I love you and your brother more than you
will ever know and I will always wish that I could do better for you. I’ll admit I don’t always love your behavior,
and I’m quick to tell you that. It is my
responsibility though to be your mother and not just a friend. That will come later, if you remember that no
matter what tomorrow brings, I love you EVERY single day.
There are so many things that I
want you to know, and in this journal I hope we can share some of those. I will write to you and sometimes it may be
long like this, and other times maybe I will just share one of my favorite
thoughts with you, or ask you a question.
I hope you will write back and do the same. This will be our secret journal to each
other. You can ask or tell me anything. I won’t show it to Daddy or "Shine". You don’t always have to answer right
away. Sometimes you might want to think
about what I ask for a few days to remember or decide what you want to
write. There is no hurry. You can just leave the journal under my
pillow when you have written to me. I
will write back within a few days, or when I come up with something else I want
to share, and leave it under yours.
I’m excited to see what our
journal ends up holding and I hope you are, too!
Love,
Mommy
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