A Letter To Little Kate.
Hey there, Little Kate.
We need to have another heart-to-heart.
It’s about something I know has been really tough for you – you might remember the time in third grade when things felt turned upside down.
First off, I’ve got to say, I love how you fill up those notebooks of yours. Every scribble, every character, every story… they’re like little pieces of magic, you know?
You have this super cool gift – being able to step into someone else’s shoes, feeling what they’re feeling, and then spinning these incredible tales out of thin air.
Not everyone can do that, Kate. It’s special.
I want to talk about something that I know has been really hard for you. Making friends.
I know how lonely it can feel sometimes at school, especially when it seems like everyone else is pairing up, forming their little groups, and you feel a bit like an outsider.
There were times when you might have felt too “extra,” too lively, or too restless for others to understand.
I see it clearly – it’s not that you’re obnoxious or you think you’re better than others. Never. You’re just… different, and that is absolutely okay.
I wish I could go back and tell you what we know now. That all those times you felt like you couldn’t quite fit into the puzzle weren’t about fitting in at all.
It was never about what was wrong with you, because nothing was.
You just had a unique label that explained how your mind worked a bit differently – ADHD.
As an adult, this discovery will bring a sense of relief and understanding. It will be like the missing piece of your puzzle, helping everything to make sense.
Most importantly, it will allow you to understand that being different isn’t a flaw – it’s a mark of individuality that makes you, well, wonderfully you.
ADHD can make some things feel more challenging, it’s true, but it also gifts you with a vibrant energy, a thinking style that leaps and bounds like no other, and a creative spark that can set the world ablaze.
It’s part of what makes Kate, Kate – whimsical, imaginative, Little Kate, who could draw stories like magic on paper.
And hey, making friends can and will become easier.
As you grow, you’ll realize that friendships aren’t about changing yourself to fit into a mold, but about finding people who celebrate you just as you are – quirks, creativity, and all.
You’ll find your tribe, and they are going to love your magnetic personality, terrific tales, and that verve for life that you encompass.
I have another thing to say, a bit more serious this time. It’s about something I know has been really tough for you – you might remember the time in third grade when things felt turned upside down.
I’ve also heard about those days when some of your classmates weren’t too kind. You know the days I’m talking about, right?
When you’d be chosen to give a speech or when a teacher showed how proud they were of your smarts, and whispers would start, words that weren’t so nice would follow you like a shadow.
That really stinks, and I wish I could’ve been there to tell you then what I’m about to tell you now.
Those kids, they called you names because you shone brightly, like the brightest star in the night sky. It can be tough for others to see someone shine so bright.
Sometimes, they feel like they have to dim that light.
But you know what?
That light of yours, that intelligence, that gift of gab, that’s all you, and you should never dim it for anyone.
Remember how you felt standing on that stage, delivering your speech, every word perfectly placed, your voice as clear as the morning?
Or how about when you represented our hometown at the regional science quiz bee? Wow, that was something!
You glowed with every right answer, and every time you stood up there, you weren’t just speaking for yourself – you were speaking for all the dreams you carry in your heart.
I want to give you a super power thought, like a shield against those mean words: whenever someone tries to bring you down, it’s just because they haven’t figured out how to lift themselves up.
Don’t let them change who you are or steal your joy. Instead, be the hero of your own story – use your powers of kindness, intelligence, and creativity to lift others up with you.
I want to talk about your family and the home you grew up in, a topic that I know isn’t easy.
Growing up, I know stability was something of a rarity in your home. While your parents did their best, sometimes their best was clouded by their own struggles, leaving little room for the kind of emotional presence you needed.
It’s tough navigating a world where the very people who should be your anchor are themselves being tossed by the waves. They had their battles, ones that perhaps they didn’t know how to fight and win while still holding on to you tightly.
It’s understandably heartbreaking to feel overlooked, to feel like the chaos or the silence that enveloped your home meant there was no room for your feelings, your needs.
In such an environment, it’s not surprising that you started to find it hard to see the value in striving, in reaching for those stars that used to light up your dreams.
Seeing your grades change, feeling that your brilliance was dimming, wasn’t just about the marks on a report card – it was about losing pieces of yourself to a situation beyond your control.
And then, there’s the sting of friendships that shift, leaving you feeling even more isolated. Losing your best friend to the “cooler” group wasn’t just a loss of a friend; it was a reminder of the instability and the lack of emotional support you felt at home being mirrored in the outside world.
Kate, it’s okay to feel disheartened, to feel angry or sad about these experiences. It’s okay to acknowledge that deep down, these twists in your journey have left scars.
Forgiveness, especially when it concerns family, is a complex mosaic of love, hurt, understanding, and time. Whether or not you find your way to forgive them is a path only you can walk, at your own pace, in your own time.
And whatever choice you make, know it’s valid.
Despite everything, I want you to know that within you lies an incredible strength—a resilience that is all the more remarkable because it has been tested.
You’ve navigated through storms with a heart still capable of love, a mind still capable of dreaming big dreams, and a spirit that, despite the odds, refuses to be extinguished.
Remember, Kate, it’s okay to seek help when the weight of these experiences feels too heavy to carry alone.
Therapists, counselors, trusted teachers, or even new friends who understand — they can be lighthouses in the darkness, reminding you that shores exist where you can find respite and heal.
Stability can be found, created anew by you, with foundations in the lessons you’ve learned, the strength you’ve gained, and the unwavering determination you carry within.
And in this renewed stability, may you find space to reignite the brilliance of your dreams, to excel in ways that reflect your true potential, and to build the supportive, understanding community you’ve always deserved.
And here’s a little secret for you – even super smart, eloquent people like you can get hurt, but they also learn how to heal and how to rise above it.
Finally, Kate, if you take nothing else from this letter, remember this – your uniqueness is a strength, not a flaw.
Learn to own it, love it, and embrace it.
The world may not always get you, but those who matter, those who really see you, truly will.
You’ve got a good heart, one that understands others, tells beautiful stories, and creates amazing worlds. That heart will lead you to find your tribe – friends who cheer you on, who love your quirks and celebrate your smarts right alongside you.
As you look ahead, allow yourself to believe in the possibility of brighter days.
You are not defined by the instability you experienced nor by the grades that once reflected a time of turmoil.
You are defined by the strength of your journey, the depths of your resilience, and the unyielding hope that guides you forward.
Hold onto that heart of yours, keep it open and keep it brave. And when the world feels a little unkind, remember your super powers: your mind, your voice, and your endless creativity.
Keep shining, little star.
The world needs your light.
0 notes