My story:
When I was a baby, my mom decided to create the most incredible artifact for me. She wrote me a letter each year for my birthday, put it in a sealed envelope and kept it locked in our safe deposit box until I turned 18. The letters detailed the years, captured memories, gave her a space to express feelings of motherhood, and now give me the words I can no longer hear from her voice. When
my mom passed away ten years ago, she left behind many things that give me comfort. The box of letters, however, is the most priceless and irreplaceable item from the collection. It is something I treasure for the hours upon hours that went into making it. It is something I value for sharing all her wisdom and reflection. Most importantly, it documents my entire childhood from the perspective of my mom, and my best friend. If I could thank her a million times over for giving me this gift, I would. I wrote monthly letters to my kids during their first year, and now write yearly ones. The monthly letters help to capture all the crazy, exciting, frustrating and emotional milestones of the baby’s first year. So many people try to recall these moments later on, and it becomes a blur of the past. Don’t wait until it’s too late to document your child’s life. I strive to create the memories for my babies as my mom did for me. My own birthday letters give me a unique outlet to my mom while reliving my childhood. I learned so much about myself in reading them, and now, also in writing them. I hope you enjoy your personalized box almost as much as your child will one day!
-Jessica Raskin
