Open Letter to 11 Year Old Me!

'You were given this life, because you're strong enough to live it.'

- Unknown

Dear Charlotte,

Hey it's me, well you, but your future self. Currently at the age of 25, life is crazy but you are loved and have finally realized who matters. So don't worry, if you don't take this advice it still works out. You still have many blessings in your life. 

I'm writing this to maybe save you some heartache and make life a little easier. So you are 11 years old. Soon to start high school, it's going to be tough. But maybe these little tips might help you survive it a little easier. To start with, do not let Dad buy you them awful, awful fake Rockport shoes, they are awful and your feet will not grow into them, so at the very least get a size that actually fits! To be on the safe side I suggest you get some dolly shoes, not really going to get picked on for that. Next do not, I repeat, do not get them woolly black tights! Get the normal one's grown ups wear! Trust me, they do not look good. Also avoid a skirt that goes to your knees, get one shorter, not too short though. And always wear tights with the skirt as you'll come across idiot boys who will pull your skirt up, tights will save you some face. 

Swot knots are not cool (not in 2001 anyway), do the knot small and have the thin bit of the tie showing not that thick bit! Oh almost forgot, the blazer you will soon buy, try to avoid wearing it, the cool kids learn that pretty quickly, get a school jumper and try your best to wear that at all times! Okay so I've covered the uniform side of things. These things may sound silly and pointless to you but trust me, it will help you blend in a little and not be classed as a geek til year 9 when you finally realize you look LAME!! 

Choose your friends wisely, you do actually do okay with this except one girl who turns on you all because you accidentally repeated that she told you she still bathes with her mother!! Totally weird, and for some reason this backfires on you and she ends up looking like the 'cool' one. But don't worry if you slip up your year 4 teacher, Mr Walker, saves the day and goes completely crazy at everyone for being mean to you and then the problems stop. But if you can, avoid it completely. 

Don't bother with the mean girls, they are just mean and thankfully they turn out looking pretty rough in later life haha.

Ignore that evil step Aunty you have, she has picked on you about what you eat for years and unfortunately she continues to do so and it knocks your confidence. You might not realize it now but trust me, you end up hot! You realize that at about age 17, but that's a different story. If you can try to love yourself now and ignore that mean woman, she is only worried about you causing competition for her and thankfully karma does actually hit her later on. Thankfully! 

Unfortunately I can't give you advice on your love life, you will slip up a lot! But you end up with beautiful children at the end of it all. But one tip, do not judge a book by it's cover! When I say this I mean if he is in the emergency services and tells you he does charity work, it's just a cover! He ends up being abusive and destroys your confidence and trust in men for about 2/3 years! Avoid that one at all costs! Please listen to that bit of advice! Only thing you come out with at the end of that is being stronger, but I'd rather you just skipped that part. 

Listen to your gut! Seriously, you are always right when you listen to your gut, so trust it!

I have probably covered most of what I need to say to you but a few more little tips. Save money! Seriously save, will make life for future you/me so much easier! Have confidence in yourself. You will be hated by many, many people unfortunately but hey doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you, it's usual them. You are a decent person, not perfect but always have good intentions. You will make many mistakes but you will also do many great things too. You end up a great Mother too (or so your kids tell me). 

Almost forgot, do not cling to that Mother figure you feel you so desperately need, you have Nan, she will ALWAYS stand by you, you can trust her. Mum will come around, you end up much closer to each other once you are older. You will realize how her mind works and she just shows her love in different ways than the typical Mother. You don't need another mother, you have her and Nan.

Look after Dad, he needs us. You also need him, he might be a jerk at times, not often, but at times. But he loves you and will do whatever he can for you and he needs you just as much. 

I've probably covered most things I need to tell 11 year old me. So please take the advice future you/me has given. You are awesome! Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. 

Lots of love,

Charlotte (at age 25 years)

xXx

P.S On the 28th September 2013 go to that ladies night in Stockport, it's where you meet Alex, you don't want to miss that. Just make sure you ask each naked waiter what they do for a living, it's how you end up chatting all night. Good Luck! 


Edit - My Rockports from year 9 on wards were real!! I needed to clarify that! Haha