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A Letter to My Kids
Advice on creativity and following your dreams.
By Wayne David Hubbard, Jr.
One December day, five years ago, I found two notes on my writing desk. The notes were from my daughter and son. They were 6 years old and 9 years old at the time. They had questions for me, their father.
They wanted to know who I am and why I enjoy the things I do. I responded with a heartfelt letter of my own. It is one of the most favorite things I have ever written, and I shared it in the past with friends. Reliving that memory, I thought I would share:
The first note read:
Dear Dad,
You are the best chess player I know. I wonder if you like your work.
Love,
Daughter
The second note read:
Dear Dad,
Why do you like planes? Do you like writing? Why do you like writing? Sometimes I like how you are creative. What are some way you [can] be creative?
Love,
Son
My response to them on December 15, 2015:
Dear Son and Daughter,
I am writing this letter to you in response to the notes you left on my writing desk.
Thank you for asking your questions. I will now do my best to answer.
First, it is quite interesting that you ask about airplanes, chess, and writing. I have loved all three of them for much of my life, even as young as the two of you.
But whereas I love chess and can talk about it to no end in sight, I do love airplanes just as much. And when it comes to writing, I love it so much I wouldn’t know where to begin.
Ever since I was a child I have been amazed at flight. It might have been old Superman movies as a kid, or maybe a big imagination, but I always wanted to fly. I would even dream about it.
But there was a problem. I was very afraid of being high up in the sky. The fear of falling down terrified me and I didn’t know what to do. Still, I continued dreaming and thinking about flying. I read books all about it at the library.
