31 Days Closer to Your Kids: Notes

I'm a note writer. If you look at my desk, you'll see little scribbles of paper all over the place. Reminders, mostly, but sometimes thoughts, quotations, sermon notes.

A couple of years ago--two years ago, to be exact--when Julia finished fifth grade, I was cleaning out her lunch box. She wouldn't be needing that in middle school (not cool!), so I figured I'd clean it out before I threw it away.

I noticed a few pieces of folded paper in one of the pockets of her lunch box. I began unfolding and realized that Julia had saved all of my notes from the year, tucked away in that pocket.



It tickled me to know that these notes meant enough to her to save.

I don't know what happened to them--there were a lot of them. Not one for every day--I'm not that great of a mom--but there was a significant pile.

Today I found a few of those old lunchbox notes in a drawer. I must have tossed a couple in there for safekeeping.

Once again, it made me smile to think of the days I wrote these notes. To think of Julia, sitting at her lunch table, opening each little treasure. And to think of her friends leaning close, asking, "What's it say?"

Writing notes to my kids brings me a lot of joy because it's a quick reminder that I'm thinking about them all day long. And if you think the note-writing stopped after fifth grade, think again. I still occasionally tuck a note in my high schooler's lunch bag (as long as she doesn't see me do it!). She never says a word about it, but I like to think it makes her smile when she finds a note in her bag.

You know what's great? When I find notes that my kids have written.

Here's one I found in the drawer--Julia must have written herself a note of encouragement in fifth grade!



And this is my most favorite note of all, written by my normally not-too-expressive middle daughter when she was just learning how to write. This note must be at lease 12 years old! I keep it hanging on our family bulletin board near the back door, and every time I look at it, it makes me smile.



So there. A quick, simple way to let your kids know that you care.

Do you write notes to your kids?

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