So today, my strong and spunky girl, I promise you this: I will stay vigilant and flexible. I will spread the word.

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Julie Hantman
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Dear Lila

Yesterday our family spent Mother’s Day afternoon at Dumbarton Oaks Gardens in Georgetown. Whenever Dad and I looked away for a moment, your mischievous 4-year-old self tore off along some garden path. Up some winding stairway. Eager to lose sight of us, laughing as we lost sight of you.

Fortunately the garden was full of other moms also enjoying Mother’s Day. “Did you lose a little girl?” called a concerned mom and grandma from under a rose arbor, as we rushed past. “She went that way!” and “Are you the mom to a little girl named Lila?” asked another mom, pointing the way you went. Clearly she had spoken to you, she was going to help reunite us, before you broke free again.

Running into all those nice vigilant moms kept me calm.

No doubt you’ve heard this story already. But what a great punch line, right? The first place you ever got lost was a beautiful walled-in garden full of helpful moms.

The world hasn’t stayed such a rosy place for your exploits, I’m sure. From my perch here in 2016 I see thorns down every path. A world on the precipice. A world beginning to unravel – although still too invisibly to trigger the loud alarm that ought to be ringing in everyone’s ear. We are animals and our habitat is threatened. Let’s flee or fight!

As you know, your momma spent a lot of time when you were small, working alongside the vigilant moms of Moms Clean Air Force. We are fighting to awaken even more moms and dads to come help protect our habitat from climate change.

Moms are built to protect kids, whether theirs or someone else’s. Whether it’s a garden, or a planet.

Here’s how your momma and her friends are fighting: we rally, we sing, we dance, we lobby, with kids in tow. We are fighting for our lives by fighting from within our lives, waving the flag of our lives: the children we love. That’s you.

By the time you’re reading this, some terrible effects of climate change may already have crashed down on you and your world. What I dread most is you losing hope. People need habitat AND hope. I grew up with hope. You need it, too. Hope is everything.

When I got pregnant with you, I made an unspoken promise to reassure and protect you.

So today, my strong and spunky girl, I promise you this: I will stay vigilant and flexible. I will spread the word. Seek game-changing opportunities. Help sound that loud alarm, and all the little alarms that we need too.

I will make all necessary costume changes. I can be Anna and Elsa, whole-hearted and fierce.

And I promise to love you, and to always find the time to revel in my mommy life with you, no matter what. This I promise you today.

Love,
Momma

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More Messages to the Future

 

Dear tomorrow,

Unfortunately, our selfishness and excessive greed have closed our eyes to the well-being of the planet, and it has suffered the consequences.

 

I promise to plant more flowers.

 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise when I start my baking franchise, I will reduce pollution made by it as much as physically possible.

 

To my Children,

As you look through your window, I hope you will see a bright future. I hope you dream big, and that you have the courage, drive, and fortitude to do everything you can to achieve those dreams.

 

Dear Beloved Children,

As time progresses, there is hope that value will be placed on all living organisms, including humans, plants, and animals. Life will move at a slower pace, and being on your own time and moving at your individual pace will be the typical way of life. I consider this way of life good living, and I hope that future generations will live on this earth as it was once intended to live in peace and harmony.

 

To my sons,

I’m voting with climate change as a top priority. I’ve tried to teach you boys that we need to clean up after ourselves and take care of the earth. I promise to continue doing these actions and more, for your sake.

 

Dear Alanna and Valeria,

I promise you to keep trying, to keep educating, to keep pushing our elected officials to act and protect your health now and in the future.

 

Dear future me,

I’m doing this work because I see it as the best way to save and improve as many lives as possible. I’m doing it so you, 2050 Ryan, can look at yourself in the mirror. And so you can tell your kids and grandkids someday that you did everything you could.

 

Caro me stesso,

Non so dove e con chi sarò nel 2050, spero che sia un anno migliore di quello appena passato .

 

Dear Malasher and Alex,

My goal was to help you grow into better citizens of our planet; to help you care about our natural world and to make everyday choices that reflect concern for our beautiful earth and our own health as well as encourage you to work together to make changes in our community.

 

Jeremy M,

My promise is to work to protest carbon emissions.

 

My Dear Paloma,

I’m going to commit to raising you with your eyes open. Being aware as much as we can, how to better our environment together.

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