Blame my enneagram two, over-feeling, lover of words of affirmation, self but I’m 100% here for the ‘have the teacher sign the book at the end of the year, every year, through school’ plan. I decided to poll the TMS friends for some ideas (thanks for asking the question Cassy) to get some suggestions beyond the traditional “Oh the places you’ll go” pick.
Within mere seconds we had a long list of fantastic contenders, which I felt worthy of making into a blog post in case you need ideas. Nothing like a random Monday morning TMS conversation to push me to temporarily pull the blog out of hiatus.
- I Wish You More
- You’re Always Enough
- The Wonderful Things You Will Be
- Be You
- Only One You
- Dear Girl
- Dear Boy
- Reach for the Stars
- The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be
I believe the original concept included gifting the book to your child at their high school graduation. However, I kind-of-love the idea of letting it be a yearly tradition to sit and read the notes together (as long as said kid wants to) instead of holding it all until they’re 18. Again, blame my love of words of affirmation, but I think that an annual reading an encouraging note from your teacher isn’t a bad idea. Maybe in August in preparation for the start of a new school year? I’ll play this part by ear for now and let you know what we decide.
My pick is one close to my heart, biased because one of my best friends wrote it, and the heart of the message is near and dear to my soul. I hope my two never forget that they are always enough, just as they are.
Going to buy a few boxes of tissues to prepare for the last day of school.
xo,
KNW
PS: There’s no time like the present to start a tradition. You can start now. Whatever grade your tiny, or not so tiny, person finds themself. Do their high school years? Or middle school? Start with this year as they graduate elementary school? Just senior year? No one says you can’t email a few of their old teachers and ask for a note to print off and put in the book (and it doesn’t have to happen before the end of school).
Get creative. Make it work for you. I’m also giving you full permission to skip years. Not the best teacher fit? Move right along or someone else who has been important that year (art teacher? ballet? music?). As always, your lane, your end-of-year-book rules.
PPS: Happily taking suggestions for other books to add to this list 😉
My mom started the tradition of reading “Wherever You Go, I Want You to Know” by Melissa Kruger to her grandkids at birthdays or special milestones and to her first grade Sunday school class at the end of the year. The book is so sweet talking about all the things a child may do in life but the most important thing is that they know Jesus loves them.