Writing a Letter to Your Child
In an open adoption, you are encouraged to stay as close to your child as you feel comfortable with, but the level of openness is entirely up to you. A common method of communication between birth parents and their children is through the use of letters. Sometimes it is easier to say things through written words than on the phone or face-to-face, but what are you supposed to write?
How do you start?
When thinking about what you are going to write and committing your words to paper, it’s important to remember that nothing anyone ever writes will be perfect — and that’s a good thing! The important thing to remember is that when you are writing a letter to your child, you do not need to agonize over getting it absolutely perfect. Whether this is the first letter you are writing or the 20th, the thing that will mean the most to your child is that you are writing at all.
What do you say?
It can be quite difficult to work out what to write. Now that you’re sitting down to write your letter, it’s not uncommon to overthink it, but this runs the risk of overwhelming you and stopping you from ever starting at all. You don’t need to be an open book and share everything about yourself, but do be honest and open about your feelings.
Speak from the heart, but try to keep it positive and simple. You could share things as mundane as what your hobbies are or what you do during the day. The simplicity and positivity of your words will maintain the engaging relationship you are trying to build with your child, which could go on to help them understand you a little better, and relate to you in their own way.
What format should I use?
If you want to give your letter a personal touch, consider writing it by hand. Seeing your penmanship can make all the difference. The words you write become more than lines on a page; they become a part of you that you have committed to paper. Even if, in the end, all you manage to write are a few sentences, it could be enough. For your child, being able to hold that piece of paper with words written by you especially for them is the most important thing.
