“She gave me the gift of my son, and plus we got one on the way
She gave me a family to love, for that, I can never repay
I’m crying while writing these words
The tears, they feel good on my face” – J.Cole
This letter is an addendum to our first message to our children. We encourage you to check that one out too as its relevance persists.
The Acosta-Chatham family is growing, and we are so excited to meet you, our second Leo baby! We can’t wait to hug you, kiss you, read to you, and love you. You, baby, are part of something great, and there are some things you should know!
The joy you’ll bring the world is immeasurable. It is not an exaggeration to say that the time leading up to your arrival has been tough. The world has been lost. As if the global rise of fascism and the persistent inequality produced by capitalism weren’t enough; a pandemic has ravaged the world, our community, and has taken the lives of friends and family. And yet, humanity has persisted. Despite the loss and despair, we’ve been reminded about how important love is and you, are a symbol of that love. Made during a time of loss, pain and loneliness, you’re the seed of our hope for the future. You’ll grow up in a time post-pandemic where we’ll do our best to show you the world and all the people that make up its beauty. We’ll play, learn, and work to make that world a better place.
We can’t wait to introduce you to León. León is one of the happiest people we’ve ever met. He’s curious, silly, brusque, and has a tooth-filled smile that is contagious. You are going to be responsible for taking care of each other as you grow up together. Mom grew up with two siblings and is super close with them. Papi didn’t get a sister until he was 17, but he can tell you it’s a love like no other. León is ready to teach you how to scream, “Wheeeee!” as you go down the slide, the joys of snow and sledding, and how to make a sea of toys spread across a room within seconds. And you are sure to teach León about what it means to be a sibling, and that as our family grows, our love for each other grows too.
With all of that love,
Mama and Papi
