Mom Pens Open Letter To Her Children Who Are 'Missing Out' Because Of The Pandemic

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Sheryl Baltazar, a 41-year old working mom, pens an open letter to her children, a 14-year old boy and 9-year old girl, to teach them priceless lessons and share silver linings amid the pandemic.

In this same letter, Sheryl hopes to inspire other parents like her to, “continue to appreciate the gift of family, health, and life.”

She reveals in an exclusive Smart Parenting interview how she worries about the impact of the pandemic on her kids. “My kids are growing up too fast yet missing out on the fun and the opportunities in spending time at school and with their friends."

"They deserve to freely enjoy what we did when we were young and I'm hoping they'll get their chance soon," she shares.

Read her letter below.

To my children who are quickly growing amid the pandemic,

Learn to be grateful for the littlest things.

The pandemic has taught me to be a lot more grateful for the gift of family, health, and life. You might be wondering why I shared with you the heartbreaking losses of family, friends, and acquaintances, some of whom you don’t even know.

I just want you to appreciate God’s blessings even more and cherish the time with your loved ones.   

Trust that the elders are doing their best to make the world a safe place again.

Keep in mind that the elders, especially the frontliners, are doing everything they can to make the world a safe place for you to live in.

Many have done sacrifices and extended help. You might recall this period vaguely after many years, but I hope you would always remember the lessons from this tragic period.

Believe in the power of prayer.

The overwhelming anxieties of the pandemic have led me to pray harder than before. The online Sunday masses have kept me sane more than you’ll ever know.

May you believe in the power of quiet moments with God just like I do. And may you continue to have faith in God’s plans for each one of us. 

When the time comes, appreciate the time outdoors.

I know that you don’t mind staying indoors and using gadgets all day. But when the time comes, I hope you’ll learn to appreciate nature a bit more.

There’s an actual life beyond the virtual world you’ve been forced to create in Roblox. Smell the flowers, run along the ground freely, and look at the sky with fresh eyes.

The world is beautiful!

Hug, kiss, and share your love.

I hope we can all go back to the time when we can hug, kiss, do high fives, and shake hands freely.

My wish is that you’ll get to do these gestures again with friends without fear of getting sick. That we can visit sick family members, give a hug to a friend in need, pat someone on the back for a job well done, and spontaneously throw a kiss to someone delightful. 

P.S. As a working mom turned work-from-home mom during the pandemic, spending my 24/7 with you these past two years has been a dream come true.

It’s been my pleasure to wake you up unhurriedly in the morning and prepare your meals in between my tasks. These precious times that we spend together, all day, will be kept in my heart forever.