Dear (10 year old) TentCamper,
I am writing to you today to tell you that no matter how you might feel right now…things WILL change. I know that you are only in fourth grade and that people pick on you, call you names and beat you up, only because your skin is darker than theirs. You need to trust me, I have been exactly where you are right now and if you stay strong and show everyone that you are a nice, likeable boy, you will be fine.
When I was your age the same thing happened to me. I was scared to go to school most days and knew that I was going to be beat up by groups of bigger kids. The butterflies in my stomach were so bad most of the time that I threw up or just went straight into the nurse’s office to hide. I used to fight back, the best I could, but for the most part…I tried to be invisible. I did not want anyone to notice me. I stayed to myself, did not make waves and ALWAYS wanted to be alone. I was very lonely and wanted the other kids to like me…but I was too scared to take any chances.
Do you feel ‘hollow’ like I did? I hope not. It is a horrible way to feel. If you can, take only this advice; be yourself. Let everyone know just how funny, nice, cool and smart you really are. Tear down that wall that you have put up around you. Crawl out of that hole. Open your heart to others…even if you think that they won’t care. There will be no way that they won’t like you. I will tell you - that worked for me.
I was always a very kind, gentle, caring, funny, personable and sensitive child, but I never let other people know …only because I was scared of them. They never saw who I really was. Not until I was in 5th grade…that is when I let ‘ME’ out. And from that point on…not even my skin color could drag away some of the great friends that I’d made.
The last thing that I’d like to say to you…and you can believe me or not…You are going to have a great life. You are going to be important in the lives of many people and the happiness that you are going to bring them will change them forever.
My heart is with you.
TentCamper Sr.
For more great stories , check out Mama's Losin It
We’re not going anywhere.
2 days ago
11 Comments:
You're so great. I'm assuming you understand how healing it is for you to look back at the child inside you and accept and love him just as he is.
What a wonderful and inspiring post. I may need to take a closer look at 10 year old me too.
Thanks!
Awww! I want to give a big hug to little boy tent camper. Why does life have to be so hard?!
On one hand, it's made you who you are, but really, couldn't things have been a little easier?!
great letter
This was lovely, wonderfully written. And may I say, a cuter ten year old boy I've probably never seen.
You are the sexiest, sweetest man around, dark or light skinned. You rock!
I read Insane Mama's post too.
I guess there are mean boys too.
It's no wonder we all grew out of it.
Bigger, badder and better.
How lucky is he to have you for a dad? Very. Such a well written letter-- I hope he read it!!
It's tough to be 10 isn't it...I can't tell if it's getting easier or harder these days.
Great post TC, you and IM have such a great way to expressing yourselves.
Um... I just had to say that my 10-year-old self would have totally had a crush on your 10-year-old self...
That is just beautiful.
Kids can be so cruel. :( How sad to picture you as a little guy all scared and not wanting to go to school. If I was there I totally would have stood up for you.
Gerks.
I'm still shocked you're not a Richard Dreyfuss look-a-like.
Post a Comment