Dear Christine,
Hi.
I'm you - but you from 2010. No, The Jetsons didn't come true. We don't have flying cars and robot maids. Sadly, that part of life is pretty much the same as ever. That's not the point of this, though.
I know you are caught up in the drama that is being a girl in junior high and high school. As you should be. But here are some truths you should know to help you along.
1. Your two best friends who you have been BFFs with since elementary school that you are convinced you'll grow old with? Just like Sex and the City, although it hasn't been invented yet and you wouldn't be allowed to watch it even if it was? You will all lose touch. You will see them at funerals of important-to-you people, chat, say "we need to get together again" but it will never happen. You are all different people now. You will miss them, but you will have new friends who are just as wonderful.
2. The drama at school? It's temporary. Sure, there will be a little more teasing and picking in high school, but everyone will be busy figuring out who they are and who they want to be. Some may even make friendly overtures to you, but you will be so untrusting after all the years in elementary school and junior high that you won't believe it's genuine. Don't worry, a few years after you graduate this thing called Facebook will be invented and everyone will know how cool you really are ;)
3. Keep dreaming. Never lose your dreams, no matter what. Don't be afraid to have a backup plan, though, because I'll tell you something: your current dreams aren't going to happen. We are not famous, or rich, or traveling the world, or have a PhD in whatever, or CEOs of a company. We are not just now looking to settle down and adopt a child or two and live in our ginormous house in a big city. We got married at 19, during sophomore year of college, had one baby right away, had another when the first was 12, and live in a small house and never have finished a bachelor's degree. But - we are happy. We wouldn't want to change anything about our family. (Although honestly, I wouldn't turn down a ginormous house in a big city.)
4. Sadly, Mema isn't magic. Cherish every moment with her. But your first daughter will have a wonderful, close relationship with her just like we did, and they will be so much alike it's scary. It will make us start to think there's actually something to astrological signs; your daughter will be born 3 days before Mema's birthday. Also, your daughter's first birthday without sharing it with Mema will be very hard for her. Also, you will name your second daughter after Mema. You and your first will agree that when the second is bigger and asks why we gave her the middle name of Inez, it' s such an old lady name, to sit her down and tell her all about the wonderful woman she didn't have a chance to love. And you will both cry when you make that agreement.
5. Don't change majors in college! Trust me on this - you WILL change your mind and go back to your first, and then you will be screwed. Just don't bother, and save yourself so much time and money!
6. Buy stock in Apple right now. Yes, I know you are young and have no idea what I'm talking about, but trust me. Clean out your savings account, buy all you can, and hold on to it for 20 years. You will thank me when you're my age.
7. Finally, and most importantly, love yourself. Respect yourself. Stand up for yourself. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. You deserve it.
Love,
Christine
ps - take good notes in math and English and keep them - you will have to help your daughter with her homework and won't remember nearly as much as you think you will!
