Prompt: write a letter to the 10-year old child you had been.
Dear April,
You will be in 5th grade by now, almost a big girl, about to take on the harsh world of judgmental girls and hormone-raged boys. But you're safe for now, home schooled with only your brother. Right now your biggest questions in life are why your mom won't let you get your ears pierced and what you will get for Christmas. Your biggest decisions in life are what to do with the rest of your day when your best friend will get out of school and what notebook you want to write in that day. Cherish these moments of innocence and simple stresses. You want with all your heart to be an adult already, I know, just so you can eat a snack without asking Mom and so you can have a husband and play house all day long. I know you wish to grow up fast and have a woman's figure, to stop being a kid that is shushed and told, "I'll tell you when you're older." Adult life isn't the ideal you think it will be. Bills are more than just annoying. You won't be able to shop whenever you want. You will have to work and budget your time. Playing the piano for Dad won't get you out of doing the dishes. You will have responsibilities that entail more than just cleaning your room or Saturday morning chores. You will be forced to do boring stuff that whining won't fix. You will one day hit a wall of reality. Prepare yourself now.
Slow down and enjoy the time with your brother when he helps you tie the kitchen table chairs together to make a bed to do your homework in. Yes, even when he picks on you and flicks your forehead. Enjoy learning the basics because it only gets more complicated from here. Be patient and enjoy that you only hear the positive things about people and the world. It was wonderful to not know the fullness of corruption in politics and what sin really looks like. When divorces and financial depressions do not affect you. Life really will zoom by like adults tell you. You will blink and then be 23, married with a college degree in English like you always dreamed you would. Enjoy your little girl's body before emotions take over your rational thoughts. Conquer that fear of failure now and so many more opportunities will open up for you that I was too afraid to take. As much as following God and being patient and saying no to what other people get to live through seems boring and dim in comparison to the splendors of popularity and style and boyfriends, it pays off in the end. Trust me.
Be excited though, your future is perfect. You will be happy, blessed, and successful. Your desires will change though and you will soon find what real happiness means. Oh man, and when you hear Mumford and Sons for the first time, it will be a good 3 minutes.
Good luck and chin up.
Sincerely, the future you.
P.s. Hold on to your barbies, because they just won't make them as well in the future.
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