For more than 20 years, I've kept a journal in which I describe my joys, complaints, and everyday experiences. I find that writing is a great way to compose my thoughts and sort out a cacophony of feelings. While this journal is not meant to be shared (someday I'll probably burn all those spiral notebooks!), it's a constant reminder of how comforting it can be to put thoughts into written words.
When I was growing up, writing with the intention of sharing was often fraught with anxiety. Writing a school essay without a good eraser on your pencil was perilous. Sometimes, the lined paper ended up with holes from too many changes. Fortunately, that's changed. Children seem to be expressing themselves in writing now more than ever.
Each month, I receive some of the letters and e-mails children send to Highlights. The mailbag always includes hundreds of unabashed fan letters and earnest suggestions. There are also letters that reveal the struggles children face at school and with siblings. When I receive my letter packet each month, I think, if only people knew the half of what is on kids' minds and in their hearts.
The letters asking for advice are the ones that grip me most. I'm awed that children see Highlights as a place where they can share their inner feelings. Every child who writes receives an individual response from an editor offering supportive and practical advice. In our last batch of letters, there was one from a child who didn't know how to deal with a peer's cursing. Another was from a child who is teased at school about a digestive problem, and yet another was from a boy who is having trouble with his father's girlfriend. One kid wrote in on his birthday because his family hadn't acknowledged the special day yet. (I'm hoping there was a surprise party in store!)
Clearly, these children view writing as a way of expressing their wishes, insights, and difficulties. I always hope that the very act of writing brings them some comfort as they transform what's in their minds and hearts into a form that provides delight (those fan letters) and prompts supportive feedback from their readers.
Writing for oneself provides solace. Writing for others is, at times, an act of generosity, trust, and courage. I am glad that children are writing to Highlights. I'd encourage you to read their letters and the responses in each month's issue and at HighlightsKids.com.