Dear 10 Year Old Me

Dear 10 year-old me,     April 19, 2021

     It is a beautiful spring day here in Oklahoma. Fresh green grass is growing taller and hiding the dead winter grass. Leaf buds are unfolding on the pecan tree in the backyard. A little one year old boy is running around the house. He loves to flip through song books and brings the pitch pipe to me to blow for him.

     I know you wish you could have been born a boy. Grandma gave you a doll for your birthday and you went to the back bedroom and cried. You thought dolls were dumb and boring. It’s okay. Nobody taught you how to play with dolls. Besides, why would you need to play with a doll when you have real babies to cuddle and play with? And guess what, even though you are a girl, you can still have just as much fun as you think boys have.

     Don’t let your brother’s bossy and condescending comments get you down. They are just boys and they don’t know any better. I know it’s tough seeing so much that needs to be done around the house, and in a little girl’s eyes looks overwhelming to know how to help your mom. Be strong and believe in yourself. Even though you would rather be outside all day, you can help your mom with the housework in little ways just like only little girls can.

     You have the cutest baby brother. Corey Royce is his name. That’s funny how his middle name has the same letters as his first name! You like to dress him in short pants, but he hates them. He wants to wear long pants like his older brothers do. You have 5 brothers and 1 sister right now. You won’t believe this now, but you will get 3 more sisters and 1 more brother yet! Don’t be embarrassed about having to drive a big white van. You are so blessed to have a big family. Someday you will miss being home surrounded by your siblings so much that your heart will ache.

     I don’t want to spoil everything that will happen in the years to come. Just know that God loves you. He knows what you are going through and will go through. Enjoy being ten little girl. Someday you will miss it.

Love from, 26 year-old me