Dear 5 year old me....repost!

Dear Five year old Self,

I sit here and write this letter to you over 20 years down the road. I'm sure you can't believe you'll ever be that old, but I promise you will be and you'll be happy. Here's a few pieces of advice that I hope you'll think about as you go through school:

1. Be a friend to everyone. Too often you are going to be put in positions where you can either be a leader or a follower. Be the leader you know you should be. When the other kids tease the girl in the class who can't afford new clothes, stand up for her. In junior high, a girl you used to be friends with will be teased...a lot.You just stood by and watched her...and now she struggles with eating disorders and a lot of other issues. Be the friend she needs you to be. In about 13 years, you are going to need the same empathy/support that so many others deserved and didn't get.

2. Love your freckles. They may be cute when you're five, but I promise there will be a time that you will wish they were all gone. There will be a time when you are teased about them. Instead of becoming very insecure about them/yourself, love yourself for you who are. P.S. Your beautiful daughters only inherit a few of them.

3. Make sports/extra curricular activities your focus. You already know that you love school and do well academically. You will, at some point, grow out of your awkwardness and be really good at sports. Make sure you never put yourself in a postion where you aren't allowed to participate in sports. Your friends will understand. You will miss sports after school, so take every opportunity to play them and work hard in high school.

4. Be open with your parents. This may be a real shocker to you, but Dad will be one of your biggest fans/supporters when you are older. You may not ever see this during school, but know he probably has always been your biggest fan, but just didn't make the time to show you. The sooner you learn this and figure out how to be open with him, the better. When he makes harsh judgements without thinking them through, realize he has your best interest in mind. (You will not believe how amazing of a 'Papa' he is to your kids).


I could continue to give you ways to make your life better, but it really does turn out okay in the end. I'm not saying it was easy. You have some difficult years ahead of you. Just a few changes could easily make the end that much better. Good luck 5 year old self.

Love.
Jacque

P.S. Give Grandpa a big hug every time you see him. You'll miss those big bear hugs and yes, even the smell of his cigars.

Road Trips to Minnesota!

One of my fondest childhood memories was my family's roadtrips to Minnesota. My mom's parents lived about 8 hours away in the northwest tip of the state. At least 2-3 times a year, we'd pack up a week's worth (or more) of stuff and start the daunting trip. Until I was ten, my parents drove a old Bonneville (it looked similar to this):

Now, imagine if you can, 5 people being in that car for over 8 hours. Keep in mind that my brothers were 8 and 5 years older than me, so I was stuck in the middle of them for the whole trip. Although this may sound like complaining, these trips were some of the most memorable times of my childhood. We didn't go on very many vacations, so these trips were the only time I got out of the state. We would stop  at random locations (like at Paul Bunyan's Statue for example):

We'd play games, stop to eat and stretch our legs, and do anything that would pass the time. But for me, it was the time I spent with my family that really means the most. I think I realized that it didn't really matter that we never went anywhere except my grandma's house. We spent time together and really got to know each other. 

Now that I am grown and have a family of my own, I make it my misson to make sure we take a vacation every year. Some years, it is just camping for a week. Other years, we do a big trip like Walt Disney World! But I hope I'm sending the same message my parents sent to me: Vacations are about being together! 

My family on our camping vacation to the Black Hills last year!