The other night I was going through old pictures of mine, my moms and my grandmothers that I hadn't seen for years and came across a letter my grandmother had in an old trunk that I had never seen before.  It is typed on onionskin paper and is very fragile.  My grandmother wrote on the back of it that my dad had sent it with me on my first day of school to give to my teacher.  

I lost both my parents way too soon but I thank God for them everyday because without them I wouldn't be the woman I am today!  They provided me with a very strong foundation to build my life upon and I can only hope that I've done as good a job with my son as they did with me!  This letter epitomizes how I was raised, I am very blessed.  This is to honor my mom and my dad!!!!

A Letter of Introduction

By:  Dad

Dear Teacher:

My young daughter starts to school today... It's all going to be strange and new to her for a while, and I wish you would sort of treat her gently.

You see, up to now, she's been queen of the roost... She's been boss of the backyard... Her Mother has always been around to repair her wounds, and I've always been handy to soothe her feelings.  But now things are going to be different.  This morning she's going to walk down the front steps, wave her hand, and start out on the great adventure.  It's an adventure that might take her across continents... It's an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.  To live this life in the world she has to live in will require faith and love and courage.  So, dear teacher, I wish you would sort of take her by her hand and teach her the things she will have to know.

Teach her... But gently, if you can.  She will have to learn, I know, that all women are not just, that all women are not true.  But teach her also that for every scoundrel, there is a heroine... That for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader... Teach her that for every enemy, there is a friend.  It will take time, teacher, I know, but teach her, if you can, that a nickel earned is far more valuable than a dollar found... Teach her to learn to lose... And to enjoy winning.  Steer her away from envy, if you can, and teach her the secret of quiet laughter.  Let her learn early that the bullies are the easiest people to lick... Teach her if you can, the wonder of books... But also give her quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill.  In school, teacher, teach her it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat... Teach her to have faith in her own ideas, even if everyone tells her they are wrong... Teach her to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

Try to give my daughter the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the band wagon... Teach her to listen to everyone... But teach her also to filter all she hears on a screen of truth and take only that good which comes through.  Teach her, if you can, how to laugh when she is sad... Teach her there is no shame in tears... Teach her there can be glory in failure and despair in success.  Teach her to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness.  Teach her to sell her brawn and brains to the highest bidders, but never to put a price tag on her heart and soul.  Teach her to close her ears to a howling mob... And to stand and fight if she thinks she's right.  Teach her gently, dear teacher, but don't coddle her, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.  Let her have the courage to be impatient... Let her have the patience to be brave.  Teach her always to have sublime faith in herself... Because then she will always have sublime faith in God and in mankind.

Tis is a big order, teacher, but see what you can do... She's such a a precious little girl... My Daughter.

I had wonderful parents and it is the desire of my heart that one day when my son reaches my age and looks back on his life he'll feel the same about me as I feel about my parents.

Willow