The Letter You Write in Those First Weeks of Parenthood

The first weeks of parenthood are a blur. You're running on no sleep, your body is recovering, your hormones are everywhere, and you're responsible for a tiny human who can't tell you what's wrong. In the midst of this overwhelming joy and chaos, there's a gift you can give: write a letter to your child. Write about what you're feeling right now—the wonder, the terror, the love, the doubt. Write it while it's raw, while you're in the thick of it. Someday, your child will read it and understand where they came from in a way no baby book can explain.

Capture the Sleepless Wonder

You're awake at 3 AM, watching your baby sleep. You're amazed that this tiny human came from your body. You're terrified that you'll break them. You're in love in a way you've never been before. You're also exhausted, anxious, and wondering if you're doing any of this right. All of those feelings are real and true. Write about them.

Your child won't understand now that you couldn't sleep, not because of the baby's needs, but because you couldn't take your eyes off them. They won't understand the miracle of watching them breathe, of studying their fingers, of marveling that they have your nose or their other parent's eyes. But someday they will. And they'll want to know that they were loved this completely right from the beginning.

Write About Your Fears

New parents are afraid. Afraid you're doing it wrong. Afraid something will happen to your baby. Afraid you're not enough. Afraid you're ruining them already. Write about these fears honestly. Don't edit them. Your child needs to know that love and fear are not opposites—they coexist. To love someone is to be afraid of losing them. To be responsible for someone is to be terrified of letting them down.

Write about how you're learning. How you're making mistakes. How you're trying anyway. This is the gift of a parent who is honest about their own humanity.

Write About Your Dreams

What do you dream for this baby? Not pressure dreams—not "I dream you'll be a doctor" or "I dream you'll be successful." But dreams about who they'll become. "I dream you'll be kind. I dream you'll laugh easily. I dream you'll know you're loved." Write about the life you hope for them. Write about the values you want to pass down. Write about what you want them to know about where they came from and why they matter.

The Raw Honesty of New Parenthood

These early letters are precious because they're written from a place of vulnerability. You haven't yet settled into the role of parent. You're still finding your footing. That vulnerability is exactly what your future teenager or adult child needs to read. They need to know their parent was overwhelmed and did it anyway. They need to know they were wanted so badly that their parent couldn't sleep just from the joy and terror of it all.

"You're three days old and I still can't believe you're real. Last night I cried—just from looking at you. I'm exhausted. I have no idea what I'm doing. And I would do anything for you. I want you to know that right from the start. That this love, this fierce and terrifying love, is real. - Your Dad"

Letters Over Time

Write one letter in those first chaotic weeks. Write another at three months, when you've settled into a rhythm but the exhaustion is still profound. Write one when they're sleeping through the night and you realize you miss their 3 AM needs because that's when you felt most connected. Write one at their first birthday. These letters, written at different stages, will paint a picture of early parenthood that no photograph can capture.

For Them to Read Someday

Store these letters carefully. Keep them somewhere safe. One day, your child will be an adult and curious about their own beginning. They might be about to become a parent themselves and want to understand what their parent felt. They might be struggling and need to remember they were loved this completely, this early, this unconditionally. Your letter will be there for them.

Don't wait for the perfect moment to write. There is no perfect moment. Write while you're still in the sleepless haze. Write your truth. Preserve these precious early days with a letter at Dear Forward's letter creation page and give your future adult child the gift of knowing what their beginning meant to you.