Don’t Let Anyone Take Away Your Awesome

 

Tomorrow marks a big day for many.  Back to school.  For my favorite boy, it is his first day of 6th grade.  And so with that, I will send him off with this letter.

Hey Monkey – 

Pretty soon, if not already, you won’t want me calling you that.  Even though I’ve called you that for as long as I can remember.  It is hard for me to believe you are going into 6th grade.  But then every year, I say that.  So this is no surprise, right?

 Sixth grade is a big deal.  A big, big deal.  You know that, don’t you?  You are the oldest and most experienced in the school.  You have the rules embedded in your mind.  You know what time first bell rings.  You know where the bathrooms are.  You can find the lunchroom…and you know how to pay for your lunch by punching in those five special numbers in the keypad.  You know all of the teachers.  You know where the library is and how to check out books.  And, you know how awesome school can be. 

The little wee ones – the Kindergartners – walking in for their first year of school with backpacks as big as their bodies, will look at you wide eyed and with wonder.  They will know you are one of the ‘big kids’.  They will think you are cool, without you even earning it.  Just.  Because.  Just because you are a sixth grader.  Don’t let them down.  Earn it.  

Be kind.  Be helpful.  Smile at them.  Make them feel welcome.   

And all of those other kids in between Kindergarten and sixth grade, do the same.  Be kind.  Be helpful.  Smile at them.  Make them feel welcome.  

And your fellow sixth graders?  You know the answer.  Do the same.  Be kind.  Be helpful.  Smile at them.  Make them feel welcome.  

The hard part?  Not all of the kids will like you.  Some will even be mean to you. And it will hurt.  I don’t know why they might be mean to you; perhaps because they don’t know these rules.  But the ‘why’ really doesn’t matter.  What matters is how you respond to those that don’t like you or are mean to you.  What matters is how you treat yourself and how you treat others.  Treat yourself and others with respect.  Always. 

Do not let others try to tell you who you are.  Do not let them persuade you into thinking you are less than you are.  You.  Are.  Beautiful.  You are kind.  You are helpful.  And you make people feel welcome.  You are funny and smart.  You are full of love and full of laughter.  You bring joy to others.  You.  Are.  Awesome.  Don’t let anyone take away your awesome.  

When someone comes at you with their mean face, smile at them.  When someone comes at you with mean words, smile and tell them that they are entitled to their opinion, but you disagree.  Remember your awesomeness…and walk away.  

These lessons and experiences are ones you can take with you your whole life.  

My wish for you this year is that you will find some joy and laughter in every day.  That you will make new friendships and strengthen the ones you already have. That you will remember …You are beautiful.  You are kind.  You are helpful.  And you make people feel welcome.  You are funny and smart.  You are full of love and full of laughter.  You bring joy to others.  

And if there is one thing you should remember from this letter, it is this:

Don’t let anyone take away your awesome.  Ever.  

Love,

Mom