Dear {Insert top secret, hotly-debated name choice},
You don’t exist yet, at least not here. I don’t know when you’ll be a part of our lives, but I know deep down you will be. My mom, your grandmother, has this story of how she almost drowned before I was born. As she looked up through the water, she knew she had to stay, she saw two children, a girl and a boy. I’ve seen you in much the same way.
You appear in my dreams in circumstances I cannot attribute to just my overactive imagination. You love your dad and share rituals with him I do not understand, especially when it is time for a nap. I’ve felt you in my body, healthy and ready to be born. Others have seen you too. Your dad, your great aunt’s mom, my mom’s friend. They all know you’ll be here soon even when I myself am not sure how many years from now we’re really talking. Sometimes you feel near, others you feel worlds away.
This big introduction is not the point of my letter. Today I am writing to you about peace as part of a monthly challenge to create more peace in the world. When I considered who I would like to write, you popped into my mind. You see, when I was a little girl, your grandfather used to be involved in local politics. He wrote this letter to the editor that I have kept in a little box, the paper now yellowed, but his words even more significant than I could have ever understood then. He talked about wanting a life where his children had clean air and water.
That’s my vision of peace for you. A life in a place where the air and water are clean. Your grandmother will tell you all kinds of reasons why this is a challenge– but some places are still cleaner than others and it is my dream you will end up there. It’s a simple wish, but this world you will soon visit is full of a lot of chaos and trouble. Some people decide not to have children for this reason, but I feel you have made the decision to arrive for yourself. We all have lessons here and I could go on to envision a world full of peace for you, but the reality is that people have created chaos for centuries, millenniums maybe.
The best I can do is promise I will work hard to teach you how to find peace within yourself and pursue a life where you help to create peace for others, too. That is what I have begun to discover for myself, so it is what I will offer you as your mother. Those words feel strange, me someone’s mother, but I know you’re out there– whether you will truly be born through me or someone else, you will be part of our family, one day, and you have a magnificent group of people, family and friends (and dogs!), who will help you navigate this world where both inner and outer peace take effort.
As I wrote that last line, I could see all the smiling faces that await you, especially your Uncle Seamus. He promises to take you on some good adventures and bring you back in one piece– with an even deeper love of nature than anyone else could give you. A few tears and smiles were shed as I wrote all these words, but they are true. Of all the monthly peace challenges, this one has affected me most deeply. Our children, whether they be truly ours or ones we help to raise as teachers, aunts, uncles, friends, are our greatest contribution to peace.
This letter just made me all the more excited to meet you one day.
Much love,
Your mother
My wish for you is a deep love of nature and peace through this love.
oliviaobryon 
***love this***
Beautifully written, you have captured thoughts I have had but could never has eloquently expressed.
Thanks Melinda– I’m sure you could put it even better with the beautiful baby boy in your arms 😉
Just so incredible. Thanks for posting this.
Thanks for the kind words, helps erase the stage fright I felt posting such personal thoughts. 🙂
It was beautiful and so very real.
I love both the thoughts and sentiments in this. It is truly beautiful. What a lovely letter to write
Thanks, it was actually one of the hardest things for me to post, I didn’t expect it to open up so much emotion 🙂
This was lovely. I can’t wait to watch you be a mother. 🙂
Thanks Chloe 🙂 I have good inspiration around me!
Tears in my eyes, I am grateful for this amazing letter to the future. I feel so much truth in these words, Olivia. I love how you don’t sugar coat reality, but you give wise advice and guidance in the face of chaos and conflict. I love how you open a space for this spiritual traveler to meet you. I love the line: ” I will work hard to teach you how to find peace within yourself and pursue a life where you help to create peace for others, too.”
I look forward to meeting your child of peace in the future.
{{{hugs]}} Kozo
I know I already commented over at your blog, but I’ll say it again, thanks for the inspiration. Your prompt gave me one of those rare moments where words just materialize and mean something. It was a really important experience for me to compile these thoughts. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Reblogged this on everyday gurus and commented:
This letter had me in tears. The future looks bright with mothers and children like this on the horizon.
beatiful love letter meditation for descendents! may all be safe, happy and free.
Thank you– the same to you and your loved ones. 🙂
Oh wow, what a lovely, touching post 🙂 And a very worthy bloggers for peace post!
You remind us that we all have a duty to be a guiding influence in the lives of the youngsters we come into contact with.
Thanks for sharing, all the best 🙂
Rohan.
Glad it resonated– it is an interesting realization to think we have the potential to positively influence all the children in our lives, whether they are truly our kids or not. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Absolutely lovely… beautifully written and heartfelt.
Thank you! It’s amazing how emotional it actually felt to write this 🙂
So lovely! I’m glad Kozo reblogged it so I can add it to my peace letter, which I’ll publish today. Best wishes as you become a parent!
Awesome, look forward to checking it out! 😀
I have been out of the blogosphere for a long while. Catching up with you is a joy.
Thanks, I’ve been missing for a bit now too– just getting back to responding and going back through everyone’s lovely posts while I was gone!
Wow great piece, thanks for posting!
Thanks, it was one of the harder things for me to decide to actually share, so I appreciate! 🙂
I’m teary-eyed reading this -it’s very beautiful.
Thanks, I was teary-eyed writing it 🙂
Brilliant Kozo, a reminder we all have a duty to be nice and care…
Becoming a parent is AMAZING..Only a parent can know that.
your son looks not far away in age from my Daughter Kozo, and she has a little sister, watching them, grow (It goes too fast) is just soo much fun.
Here are my 2..
How can anyone not smile seeing two small people like that? lol
Hugs bud
Shaun
Kozo said this made him shed some tears as well & I see why. It’s so beautiful. You’ll be a wonderful mother, Olivia.
If you’ve seen and felt future children, chances are you will definitely have them. 😉
Thank you, I definitely hope so! 😀
You’re quite welcome. 🙂
[…] A Letter for Peace to my Child […]