Dear Ellie:

You can plan a pretty picnic but you can’t predict the weather. (A quote made famous to my generation by Andre 3000…and as my child I expect you to know who that is) That is probably one of the truest things I’ve ever heard; you can only control but so much in life and believe me weather isn’t one of them. Nonetheless we continue to tune into the news to catch the local weather man’s report…and then complain when he’s wrong. Truth be told there is nothing wrong with trying to be prepared. As your Daddy would say its better to have and not need than need and not have. This practice though can become a problem when we start listening to the “whethermen” in our lives, the ones who will try to make you believe they know whether or not you should do something or whether or not you’re making the “right choices”. Sometimes these people mean well and are simply trying to use the information they know to help prepare you. But my baby some are really just dark clouds always assuming that the worst will happen to you, encouraging you to carry an umbrella of fear when the sun is shining brightly. That’s when you have to trust your instincts and say I choose to believe in positivity and to appreciate the sunshine even if the clouds are rolling in over in the distance. Because even if it rains unexpectedly in life, as it will, you were built to weather what ever storms come your way. And you don’t always need to rely on a “whetherman” to tell you what to do. Sometimes its about taking a chance and experiencing it. If you go out and there’s a chill in the air you learn that you need to bring a jacket along for the ride sometimes just like in life you will learn different situations requires different mindsets, preparation, etc. No one can tell you with 100% certainty what will come day to day. Just do your best to enjoy the sunshine and don’t fear the rain you’ll find that sometimes all you can do is dance in it. And for those really scary storms the ones that come without warning and bring thunder, rain, wind, and lightning..well there’s a beauty in surviving it.

Love you always,

Mommy

P.S. To the little girl dealing with a world of criticism…a world that tells hers whether she’s too fat, too tall, or just too different..change the channel! Not every whether report is accurate, and honestly its off a lot of the time. And remember to take each report, especially from those who actually care, for what it is in its entirety. Just because there will be rain in the morning doesn’t mean you should stay in all day and just because someone says it may be a challenge for you it doesn’t mean you should give up. Sometimes even if the weather report calls for rain you just have to grab your jacket and hope for the best.