Dear Younger Clare

Dear brand-new Clare:
Welcome. Live. Cherish.

Dear 1-year-old-Clare:
Aren't you lucky to be allergic to most of the out-doors?

Dear 2-year-old-Clare:
Fractured bones heal. Even if they hurt. Even if they got great big heavy boxes dropped on them. Even if they're your toe bones, and you can't move them right afterwards.

Dear 3-Year-Old-Clare:
School… Yeah, that'll become a theme.

Dear 4-Year-Old-Clare:
NO! NO NO NO! Eating dirt will NOT make you un-allergic to grass!

Dear 5-Year-Old Clare:
You may be engaged to him, but he'll be cheating on you by the end of the week.

Dear 6-Year-Old Clare:
Try asking nicely first. Boys don't like getting beaten up by girls, especially if they're bigger than them.

Dear 7-Year-Old Clare:
When they tell you you're smart, PLEASE don't start crying. They'll only misread it.

Dear 8-year-old-Clare:
Your parents didn't tell you till now because they thought you didn't need to know. They won't realize how bad it hurts you to find out.  Remember this when you have that identity crisis later on.

Dear 9-year-old-Clare:
Don't worry. They just laugh because they're jealous of you. Also, pillows act like big tissues and are good at muffling noise when you cry in the night, because I know you will.

Dear 10-year-old-Clare:
MOMMY AND DAD HAVE TO KNOW. They're there to help.

Dear 11-Year-Old Clare:
Your big brother heads off to college, and the house suddenly seems a lot bigger. Prepare to be lonely.

Dear 12-Year-Old-Clare:
Best friends aren't forever.

Dear 13-Year-Old Clare
"OW!" That's your heart, babe. First love's first bite. I hope you take something away from that experience.

Dear 14-Year-Old Clare:
Remember that identity crisis I was talking about? Mm-hm…

Dear 15-Year-Old Clare:
Yes, writing IS fun, isn't it?

Dear 16-Year-Old Clare:
Granma dies. Foofie dies.  But they loved you, and that didn't die with them.