Parents' open letter to their newborn reminds us of the importance of childhood

With the arrival of their second daughter, came a second open letter to the world and we're listening intently. 

Californian parents, Mark and Priscilla, welcomed their second child, August, into the world to join her older sister, Max. 

And through their happiness, the couple shared a poignant post about the importance of childhood. 

Growing up in a technology driven world has it's perks, but as it is with everything in life, once there are perks, there are pitfalls. 

Mark begins: "When your sister was born, we wrote a letter about the world we hoped she and now you will grow up in – a world with better education, fewer diseases, stronger communities, and greater equality."

"We wrote that with all the advances in science and technology, your generation should live dramatically better lives than ours, and we have a responsibility to do our part to make that happen."

Revealing that himself and his wife are ever the optimists, they truly believe that this future can still come to the fore for their children, no matter how much the world focuses on the negative in this current climate. 

Nonetheless, they aren't focusing on the future right now, they're busy thinking about the important things in life: "But rather than write about growing up, we want to talk about childhood."

"The world can be a serious place. That's why it's important to make time to go outside and play. You will be busy when you're older, so I hope you take time to smell all the flowers and put all the leaves you want in your bucket now."

The open letter declares the different scenarios of childhood these parents want their children to experience such as riding all the carousals, reading endless books, running around the house in circles, and taking as many naps in the world as they could possibly want.

Because as these girls' parents, they want them to feel loved and secure: "I hope even in your dreams you can feel how much we love you."

"Childhood is magical. You only get to be a child once, so don't spend it worrying too much about the future."

Because that's what your parents are for; it's our job to worry about your future, it's our job to keep you safe. 

And as Dad declares: "We'll do everything we possibly can to make sure the world is a better place for you and all children in your generation," we remember that this is the world we want for our children too. 

The importance of allowing children be children is a poignant one – there is nothing quite like reliving your childhood memories, making it one of the most crucial aspects of life we need to preserve.