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Each year on the third Thursday of March (this year it’s March 20th and is being touted by KOSI Radio Denver), Camp Fire USA encourages you to let kids know just how valuable they are. Write a letter of love and support to the children in your lives. It only takes a few minutes, and the positive impact can last a lifetime. Click here for letter writing tips!

I wrote letters to my son for every birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, first day of school, last day of school, tucked a letter in his suitcase when he took trips with his grandparents or father, put letters under his pillow when he was sleeping at night.  I wanted my son Andrew to know without a doubt how much I loved him and how great he was.  Since February 12, 1997, the night that Andrew lost his life in a car crash,  I sit by his grave on those important days and continue the ritual of writing him letters.  I still say much the same: how much I love him and how very proud I am of him. And since that tragic night, I have added how very much I miss him and how broken hearted I am that he did not have the opportunity to live a full and happy life.

About five years after I lost Andrew, I was having a manicure with a new manicurist.  Trying to make conversation, she asked me if I had any children.  Without missing a beat, I said “Yes, I have a 21 year old son”, and then continued on to tell this woman details about his life or rather how I envisioned his life would be.  I made up an elaborate fantasy about where he graduated from college, that he was travelling Europe for the summer with his girlfriend Heather (yes I not only gave her a name but described her from her black hair, blue eyes down to her love of shoes).  I told this poor unsuspecting manicurist about Andrew’s graduation present from all of his family - a red vintage mustang convertible that he would bring over to my house and lovingly wash in my driveway on Sundays. There was even a well-known company in my fantasy (Microsoft) pursuing him through Europe to come back and work for them.  I felt euphoric when I left.  It just made me feel so good.  Naturally I could never go back to that manicurist but every time I see a red mustang convertible I smile. Sometimes a fantasy is all that will get me through the day.

I am so grateful I wrote those letters to him when he was alive. I know for a fact the letters made a difference in his life.  I know for a fact that he felt loved and cherished by his family.  I know for a fact that he loved and cherished his family.  That’s all I have left now, the memories of his smile, the letters I wrote that he was able to read and a stack of letters that I have written while sitting by his gravesite.

So on March 20th, I encourage you to write a letter to the incredible kids in your life. There is an incredible kid that lives across the street from me.  Whenever she sees me she runs across the street to say hello or leave me little notes telling me how much she enjoys doing art projects with me.  She recently cut off her long blond locks to donate to Locks for Love to help children suffering from cancer. Our children are our most precious commodity and for some reason we rarely find the time to tell them how precious, smart, clever, funny and cherished they are. 

I will write a letter to Leanna the incredible kid across the street on March 20th!  Who will you write a letter to?  Please pass this along to the people in your life that have incredible kids!

Linda Ann Smith
Author, Speaker, Ritual Expert
Power of Rituals for Women
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