1. I know you’re more worried about what’s going on at school right now than spending time with your family, but one day, you’ll enjoy being with your Mom so much you’ll take road trips to some really pretty places together.
(1a. Pay more attention to the things she writes to you in those cards she leaves on your bed.)
2. When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Take half the clothes and twice the money. (Heller)
3. Start each day by looking up. It’ll widen your horizon.
4. The human spirit needs places where nature hasn’t been rearranged by the hand of man. Take more walks in the woods!
5. You know all that weird “old stuff” your Mom thinks is so cool right now? (screen doors, stone chimneys, old windows) You’ll be crazy about it all one day, too.
(5a. You’ll love that kind of stuff so much you’ll even start a blog about it.) (PS- I know you don’t know what a blog is right now, but trust me, you’ll be crazy about those too one day.)
6. Those architectural drawings your Mom works on in her office may not intrigue you now, but one day, you’ll be passionate about drawing rooms to scale for people too. Ask her questions about what she’s working on and take notes!
7. This may be hard to believe, but weeding the garden isn’t going to kill you.
(7a. one day, you’ll wish you had enough time, talent and space to grow all the amazing things your Mom does!)
8. Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving. (Einstein) Follow your heart and fight for your dreams!
9. Riding bike might not seem like a very “cool” thing to do right now, but one day you’ll see a grass green Schwinn cruiser that’ll take your breath away.
10. Buy a bike now and ride it whenever you can! There are awesome bike trails all over the place, just ask your Mom.
11. In late September, spend less time looking at your cell phone (again, that will make sense later in life), and more time looking at the trees explode with color.
(PS- You aren’t going to meet and marry Jon Knight from NKOTB, but don’t worry- there’s another music man out there whose heart has your name written all over it.)
12. Pay more attention in photography class. There’s a road from the eye to the heart that doesn’t go through the intellect (Chesterton) and one day you’ll slam on the brakes to take pictures of things you don’t even notice are beautiful right now.
13. Ask your Mom to teach you how to cook. If you don’t take the time to learn how to do it now, you’ll be eating cereal, sandwiches and Stouffer’s when you’re 37. I’m not kidding.
14. Cherish the sky-blue painted wood floor in your bedroom. One day, you’ll want to paint the wood floors in your own home, but you’ll be too scared to do it!
15. Do not, I repeat, do not try to use a fire escape ladder to sneak out your second floor bedroom window this year. You will regret it. I promise.
16. Being grounded isn’t the worst thing in the world. When you get older, you’ll actually enjoy sitting still.
17. I hate to break it to you, but you will always be afraid of the dark. Invest in a good nightlight and take it with you wherever you go!
18. The three C’s of life are choices, chances, and changes. You’ve gotta make a choice to take a chance in order to change. (unknown)
(18a. The 4th C should be for Chex mix. Not only will you carry a bag of it wherever you go when you’re 37 years old, but in a pinch, you’ll also use it to king your checkers on one of the road trips you take with your Mom that year.)
19. Someone is totally right about that whole water thing. Sweat, tears, and the sea can cure anything.
20. At different points throughout your adult life, your inner fire will go out. Don’t worry. Spend time with people who can rekindle your inner spirit and don’t ever forget to tell them how much they mean to you.
21. When it comes to solving problems, dig at the roots. Don’t just hack at the leaves. (D’Angelo)
22. Sometimes, the most important thing in a whole day is the rest you take between two deep breaths. (Hillesum)
23. You might not ever figure out exactly what you want to be when you grow up, but that’s okay.
Your parents are totally cool with your artsy-fartsyness and life is more about the journey than the destination anyway.
24. Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. (D’Angelo)
25. Be like the color yellow as much as possible. Sunny, optimistic and cheerful!
26. Read more books. Someday you’ll want to write one.
27. Blog about your road trips with your Mom and include lots of pictures so you can relive the memories you shared with her for years to come.
Some of them will instantly transport you back to the day Mother Nature seemed to be celebrating her very presence by showering her with crunchy “leaf confetti” every time the wind blew extra hard. (Remember how she had to guard her coffee from the celebration!)
Some of them will bring back memories of exploring interesting places, sipping wine out of tiny juice glasses, and making up your own rules because neither of you knew how to really play…
And fortunately, some of them will be there for you to witness over and over again…
Beautiful post and gorgeous images, Layla. You are so blessed to have such a healthy, active, involved, caring, brilliant, funny, loving Mom. So blessed. Life is good. 🙂
“The cure for anything is salt water~ tears, sweat, or the sea.”
Isak Dinesen
Love it! So true!
Wow. That is a beautiful post. You could bind it and it would be one of those little books I’d have sitting on a table by a chair to look at for inspiration. It really is touching. I’m wiping little tears from my eyes. Thanks.
This is beautiful! So many good quotes in here, I may have to do this for myself!
And… I thought I was the only one who liked Jon from NKOTB best! Glad to know I’m not alone 🙂
Catching up on my blog reading and I got to this post. Am now sitting in my office with both my eyes and heart full. Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts, hopes and pictures!
Love this so much! At (almost)50, I find my 23-year-old daughter such a delight – my favorite girl on the planet! Hope we can roadtrip like this one day soon! (Where on earth is the treehouse looking place? With the hammock beneath? Can I go there?) Thanks for sharing such a heartfelt post!
I cannot think of anything lately that has touched my soul so much. It really puts life into perspective. This post is truly a masterpiece on the insights of life! Bravo!!
Layla you made me cry and I NEVER cry.
I miss my mum so much right now – what I wouldn’t give to have received that note at 17. I didn’t get the chance to appreciate my mum nor tell her the things I should have.
Appreciate your mum extra for me.
xx
i didn’t comment yesterday but the posting has stayed with me and i wanted to tell you that i sent it to my 30 yr old dtr….not so much as a message to her but to have a perspective on motherhood (which is, hopefully, in her future!) all the things that you do with love and joy do carry on in your children, sometimes we forget how important the little daily things are. thank you, layla
Thank you for reminding me how much I enjoy my Mom’s company. At 83 and 54, we still laugh, learn and share with each other. Now, I will send this to my grandchildren because you have said this so perfectly! Thank you again for sharing, Raylene
I really enjoyed this post. It’s funny how you see things so differently once you are past them. Cherrish the moments though.
I know you wrote this post, but read this while listening to “Draw Me Nearer” by Meredith Andrews. I was just going through a million blogs listening to Pandora and that song came on while I was reading this post and it almost brought a tear to my eye (almost, I can’t cry at work lol). What a sweet post about your mom!
Please turn this into a small book Layla; it’s magnificent! I lost my mom when she was just 64 so missed many years to take more trips like this. Those we did take looked a lot like you and your moms. I’m going to share all your wisdom with my 15 year old…thank you for this wonderful post and the follow up. (It took me two tries to read them thru the tears. 🙂
Janita
PS my childhood bike: the Schwinn Green Breeze. My Tiger Beat men: Davy Jones and Bobby Sherman
Brilliant! The only thing I would add is this:
Bullies will always be there. Ignore them when you can. If you can’t, fight them with the truth.
Layla,
This is my favorite post. Ever. I laughed and cried. Thank you for sharing from your heart…it caused me to think about life and search my own heart. Beautifully written!
Best post I’ve read in months. The end.
What a beautiful post. Being a mother of young adults it warms my heart to hear that you listen to wise advise.
My own daughter wrote a similar post to her “16 year old self on her 32nd birthday. You can read it here:
http://johnsonsmixednuts.blogspot.com/2011/08/letter-to-16-year-old-me.html
Layla,
Thanks for sharing your beautiful thoughts and gorgeous images. Makes me think of my mom and some of our trips together. Just sent it to all my sisters – who I’m sure are remembering how special she made each of us feel. You and your mom are lucky (and deserving) to have each other!!!
Amazing! I just dedicated a floral photograph to my mom, at my RedBubble site, and found your site through someone else, (I don’t even know how I got here) but I guess I was meant to see this awesomely, wonderful post!
It’s so heartfelt and lovely, thank you for sharing! Hugz to you and your mom! Aren’t moms the best, best, BEST things in the world???
Cherie
Thanks for sharing this heartfelt post — I loved reading it and reflecting on my own mom and thoughts!
I so wish I had known some of these things when I was 17! I read through the post with tears in my eyes. It is so great that you get to travel with your mother now. And to share the same interests is so cool. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that age and know what I know now.
I never really fought with my mum, but I didn’t try very hard to get to know her either. She was always rushing somewhere, work, laundry, meal preparation, cleaning. And I helped out, but only when asked. I wish I would have volunteered because she had so much on her shoulders.
My dad passed away 2 years ago and I now have my mum living with me. Well, back and forth between my house and my little sister’s house. She is 93 years old now and I know I’m not going to have her forever. I cherish every single minute with her now.
Mom loves to work in the garden and for a 93-year-old lady, she can work! I spent all last week putting together a surprise for her. She is with my sister, but comes home to me in December. I made a raised planter bed on wheels so she can plant and tend to her own little garden without having to bend down. I’m so excited to see her face when she sees it. And I hope it holds together! I’ve never built anything before, so this may fall apart when I get the soil in it. Wish me luck!
And thank you for sharing that post with us. It made my heart swell
.
A beautiful post! Thank you for sharing your heart with us….And reminding all of us mothers and daughters alike what is really important!
I love your post, I often think what would I have told my 17 year old self. But the person I was would have said no that will not happen, your wrong….lol I really got this line
Cherish the sky-blue painted wood floor in your bedroom. One day, you’ll want to paint the wood floors in your own home, but you’ll be too scared to do it!
I think back as a kid and it was so easy to make choices and you just did it and hope it worked out. But as an adult we know some things cant be undone so we hold back. We have been in our home for a 1 1/2 now and its sad to say we still have enrty that is blank nothing but texture cause I dont want to pick the wrong paint color….lol so sad! Part of me wants to pick a color that is bright and cheerful but then the safe michelle says no go with basic beige color. I am so confussed its at times like these I wish I coul dbe a kid again, she would have picked a colro by now and had it done….lol
Great post! filled my heart up 🙂
Thank you for this post! I loved seeing pictures of your trip and your time with your mom. I would love to do this with my mom and sisters! Thanks for the inspiration….I want to get on planning it now!
LOVED this post! Loved the sentiments, loved the tree house and have been by the building in Springfield many a time… love that too! Thank you for sharing with your friends in cyber-space!
#22 has always been my favorite number and your #22 is now also a favorite. We must all remember to “just breathe”. My husband makes fun of me sighing and I tell him that the reason I do it is because I realize that I have been holding my breath.
I so enjoy your blog and loved seeing the camp again.
Susan
I loved this post!!!! Thanks so much for sharing. I thought I was going to marry Joe McIntyre but I am so glad I didn’t. The place you stayed at is beautiful!!!
this entire post is simply beautiful.
WOW. . .
I loved that. What an amazing trip you had. And how you will cherish that time down the road. You’ll never be sorry for creating memories like these. How wise Kevin is to encourage (tolerate?) Mother/Daughter bonding. It makes you a better wife. Thank you for another glimpse into your world.
I LOVE this post! Great job Layla…number 12 sounds like me in high school!
Lisa
http://www.pickfair.etsy.com
Absolutely wonderful…..
I have been following along on your website for some time for your great home decorating ideas. This post however really struck a chord & I wanted to thank you for sharing. My Mom died 6 years ago when I was 30, how I wish I could’ve taken a trip like this with her! Thanks again, that was beautifully written….
absolutely beautiful! thank you!!
Gorgeous photos! I love all the places you go & you take pix of the details. I do the same w/photos but I just wish we could travel more! By the end of your post, the tears fell. It touched my heart. I’m going to share this w/my 13.5 y/o today. The past two months for me was a wake up call. Before I was going 250+ mph each day & someone above brought me back to zero in a flash. I reached my darkest moment bcuz I was in back spasm pain beyond belief. A close friend came over an hour after I had horrible scary thoughts in between screaming in pain, she prayed over me & that same night I was able to sleep till the am w/out any spasms & I had good happy thoughts when I woke up. You have to always believe, may need a knocking over to get back on the path, but most of all be thankful. I’m on the road to recovery & thank God each day for Ana coming to my house last minute that one Sunday 2.5 weeks ago. =)
Layla, this is such a beautiful post. The photos, the memories, the honest truth… I just loved it. For awhile now I’ve been hoping to take a trip with my mom similar to this. Peace, quiet (which she so deserves!) and some exploring of our many shared interests. Thanks to you I’ll be scheduling that trip this weekend.
I’m seldom speechless and not easily moved, nor do I leave comments on blogs, but that was an awesome post. I would love to read something like that from my daughter one day. That was truly beautiful and inspiring.
what a beautiful and thoughtful post. I truly enjoyed reading it. Thank you.
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this post! You are such a sweet soul. I love that you appreciate your mom and that you have acquired so much wisdom in the 20 years since you were 17. My mom passed when I was 10. I wish I had her now. I would savor every minute with her. This is my first time commenting. I am 10 years older than you, but I’d like to be like you when I grow up. 🙂
sweet, sweet words of wisdom. you are both very blessed to have this wonderful relationship (not everyone gets that gift in life).
you wrote 37, but I swear I thought you were only 27! looks like you inherited good genes too;)
xojoan
I’ve read a lot of blogs, but this is an awesome post! Well done. I’m going to go look for my checkers set right now and try to get a game going with my 16 year old daughter! Thanks for sharing! Marie
Thank you for this gorgeous post (that is making the rounds on facebook…I’ll be off in a moment to share it on)! Both the words and the pictures are absolutely lovely. I’ll be emailing a link to my mom, and making plans to visit with Camp Wandawega with my 7yr old son. Just as soon as I find out where it is, that is…thank goodness for google. 🙂
Thank you, AJ! Wandawega is in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Can’t wait to get back there again someday! 🙂
This is a really lovely post, Thank you 🙂
Hi Layla. I think we have a lot in common. I love the way you adore your mom. I hope one day, my daughter will feel that way about me. Your mom must be a precious person.
I know that this is an old post…. but this post totally blessed me. Thank you for sharing. My favorite pic was the one of you and your mom playing a game at the kitchen table in the black and white . It takes me back to sunday night supper at my grandmother “Honey’s ” house. Thank you again , so so much !!!!! Sherri Gordon
This post was so thoughtful and touching. I wish we could all give advice to our 17 year old selves. But I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway.
You are wise beyond your years! I wish I had and ounce of the relationship you have with your mother, with my mother. Our relationship has been pretty much non existent my whole life, more so in the last 4 years. I envy that you can sit and have conversations with your mother – and have memories with her and of her, that will one day be an incredible source of comfort for you. Enjoy the relationship you have (and have had even as a child) with her. I am blessed to have an incredible daughter. What I never had with my mother, I have with my amazing daughter. I can see her and I getting closer as she grows up and moves on with her life. I know I’ll always be very present in her journey, as she’s a huge part of mine. My daughter just happens to be 17, and a lot of what you wrote above, i will be sharing with her.
Keep up the good work!
Lorna
I loved this – made me get a little tear in my eye while I laughed while reading aloud with my not-yet 17 yr old minime. Really glad I came across the Lettered Cottage – great stuff.
I also have an adventure loving mom. We were lucky enough to travel through Peru with her this summer. Thanks for the beautiful post!
I stumbled upon this post and I am so glad I did. Although reading it has put a little lump in my throat, and a stinging in my heart. I lost my mom when I was 15 and never had the chance to experience a “friendship” with her. This post fills me with hope that that one day, my 16 year old daughter will be able to consider me her friend, and we will be able to enjoy life’s adventures together.
Thank you for stopping by today, Gina. I appreciate you taking time to leave a comment! 🙂 My mom and I weren’t always close (teenage years- ugh!), but I’m so glad we are now, and I’m confident you and your daughter will share many wonderful adventures together, too! 🙂