Hello my beautiful children.
As I write this to you, I don't know how long it will be until you read it, but after recent events in 2016, I hope the world has become a somewhat better place than it is now.
Just last week, there was a terrorist attack in Paris, France that has left 84 people dead, 10 of whom were children. The week before that, two African American men were shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Falcon Heights, Minnesota by police officers. Just a few days later, in response to the deaths of these men, during a peaceful march honoring them, a man opened fire on those marching and the police officers surrounding them. Five officers died that night while attempting to save the 700 to 800 people around them. The man that murdered these officers did it simply because he wanted to kill white people — specifically white police officers — because of the deaths of these black men.
In the world I have grown up in, I have watched the worst attack on America to date, which occurred on September 11, 2001. I watched planes full of people crash into towers filled with thousands more people and saw so many lose their lives as those buildings crumbled to the ground. I was only in the first grade. I hope that you will never have to witness something so tragic, and if you do, I hope that you will come together with those around you to find a way to help. I want you to understand that even when people do horrible things, not everyone of a similar background is bad. There are good people in the world, it just may take a bit of searching to find them. Right now, my loving children, the world is a dark and scary place that is full of terrors, and I have no idea what effect they will have on the world you inherit. I hope with every fiber of my being that by the time you have come into my world, that the Earth you inherit will be somewhat peaceful. As your parent, it is my job to protect you from the dangers that the world holds to the best of my abilities. But, just as your grandparents did with me, and their parents did with them, I will not hide from you what is happening in the world around you.It is not because I want you to be afraid, but because I want you to be aware. I want you to understand that bad things happen but things will never be so bad you can't come back from it. The hardships you will face in your life will help you grow and become the amazing people I know you will be.
I hope this letter finds you healthy and happy, and I want you to know that even though I haven't met you yet, you are such a gift and a blessing to me. I can't wait to see how you change the world, even if the only person you change the world for is yourself.
I hope to be there as you achieve every goal you set and you will live out every dream you have.
No matter what happens in this world, my darlings, know this: I will always be there for you, even when I'm not physically present.
Even when the world is dark, and you feel like you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, know that I will be there to hold your hand and that we will get through whatever it is that you are facing together.
I love you.
With all my love and brightest hopes for you,
Your parent.
