As parents, we look forward to and celebrate with great enthusiasm every progress or every new stage in our children's lives: their first steps, their first word, their first day of school. But for those parents who have suffered the loss of a baby, those moments will never come.
And although they will not be able to live them, it does not mean that they do not keep in mind each of those important dates and moments that they could have shared next to their children.
It is because of that A preschool teacher has written and published an emotional letter, addressed to all those children who should start their preschool education this year, but who will not be able to do so..
Professor Rachel Whalen, author of the writing in question, She knows this painful experience that some parents go through well, because she also lived it a couple of years ago, when her daughter Dorothy was born dead.
In a post on her "An Unexpected Family Outing" page, Rachel shares that the idea of writing that letter happened while making preparations for the new school year that is about to begin.
At the beginning of each year, in some countries the teachers send letters to their future students, and that's when she He decided that he would make a special letter for all those children who had left before they had the opportunity to go to school.
"I imagined that families should receive one of these letters, but instead, they would receive another dose of pain when they saw that their children could not live this moment. So I have decided that, for this year, they can join my class. I will be your teacher", says Rachel, before sharing the text of this special letter.
Dear friend,
Welcome to preschool! I am Professor Whalen and I will be your teacher. I am excited to save you a place in my class this year. Although you will not be able to attend physically, I will feel your presence in my classroom every day.
Preschool is an exciting place and how I wish you could live it with me! I want to teach you all about the letters, the sounds they make and how to create words. I wish you were by my side while we learned a lot about numbers, plants and animals. I will be thinking of you when we learn about the cycle of life and see how the caterpillars of my class become beautiful butterflies. I know you would have a lot of fun studying the work of famous artists, making scientific discoveries and learning about many other wonderful things.
I know how much your family would like you to be here to share the joys of preschool with them. They want to direct you to your new classroom, help you store your backpack and listen to everything about your day. I want you to know that even if our room is full, we will always miss you.
So, on the first day of school, be sure to send a little more love to those who miss you. They will do the same for you. I am honored to have you in my class and keep you a place in what would be your preschool year.
With love,
Professor Whalen
Rachel's post has received hundreds of positive comments, especially from parents who went through a gestational and neonatal loss, thanking her for honor the memory of their children in what would be their first year attending classes and sharing the stories of babies who are no longer with them.
