Early warning: I wrote this post not because I will be a mother tomorrow, but because I fully aware that what will you do (as a parent) will affect your children’s attitude. I have a lot of friends who are so spoiled and they need others to fulfill their wants and needs, and after I know their stories, those not good attitudes appear because of their closest surroundings; friends and parents. So here’s a letter for my children who are not here yet.

Dear Kids,

Hi, I’m your mother. (Now it’s awkward because I write this ‘letter’ years before I make you).

I’m sure you’re prettier and and handsomer than me and your father.

So kids, what I want to tell you is everything I do as your mother is for your best.

I will try to provide you with the best education system, because I want you to be smart. But I will keep your ‘head down’.

Even though we have a car, you still have to go to school with public transportation. So you will know how to use public facilities and how to behave among other people. You will know how hot it is when it’s raining meanwhile the bus is full with people, but also you will find the ‘art’ of sleeping in the bus but in the same time you should be aware with bad people there.

Even though I can buy you the newest gadgets, I will just buy you a gadget you need. So you won’t forget how to interact with your family and friends, you will talk with your ‘real friends’, not with them via chat or sms. You will play the real games, such as hide and seek, benteng, tapak gunung, or galaksin – not with your playstation –  because it will make you healthier and teach you how to compete, cooperate, respect others, and how to be a leader.

I will provide everything you need, but you should do something to have the things you want. For example, if you want me to buy you the most trendy shoes that you fall in love with, you have to make good grades in class. I do this to teach you that in life you should make efforts in order to accomplish something. Life is competitive, kids, if you’re strong then you’ll be a winner. But you still have to act nicely to others, because life is not only about yourself but it’s about how to have good relationship with others.

We will do a lot of traveling. Yey! I will show you the beauty of Indonesia and its cultural differences. We will spend nights not in a luxury hotel, but in hostel or in local people house so you can learn more about people and culture. But don’t worry, sometimes we can spend holiday in hotel and you’ll be our ‘prince and princess’.

When you turn to 17, I will encourage and challenge you to do traveling alone, in and outside Indonesia. It’s better if you can join exchange program to other continent, so you can meet a lot of other people from all over the world. Be a traveler, kids. Explore the world, value your life and others, meet strangers, expand your comfort zone.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

So, that’s all I want to tell you for now. By the way, I learnt from the greatest teacher: my parents and life.

I love you.

-Your Mother-

Nb: I haven’t met your father yet. But I’m sure he’s the best man for us.