About Rebecca Eckler
Since becoming pregnant with her daughter Rowan, Canadian journalist and author Rebecca Eckler has penned three hilarious books, including the best-selling Knocked Up. Catch Rebecca’s weekly unique perspective on motherhood and single parenthood.
I’m just going to come right out and say it. I broke into my daughter’s private journal (gasp of horror!).
It wasn’t an easy feat. First, it was one of those journals that came with a lock and key. Smart mommy that I am, I told her she should keep the key around her neck on a necklace. That way, she’d never lose it. But that was before the thought hit me that I may want to READ what she wrote in her journal. I explained what a private journal is. I told her she can write whatever she feels like writing – including bad days, or wonderful days or her emotions.
To be fair, I did wonder if she was writing thoughts about the fact that her father and I live in different cities. Or, if there was some meany at her school that was bothering her and she wasn’t telling anyone. Or at least that’s how I justified breaking into her journal.
Like I said, it wasn’t an easy feat. I waited until she was fast asleep and, yes, I took the key off her neck so I could open the journal and read what she’d written. Before you stone me, hear me out. She’s six! Her thought process generally goes something like this: “I like butter on my pancakes. So I’m going to put butter on my pancakes.” Also, the gal still sounds out words, so her spelling is not that great, to say the least. Only a mother (me) could actually make out what she had written.
Here’s one entry: “If you loos a game don’t be mad because you can try agen and if you win don’t be meen to the prsin that lost. Sae good game.”
(Translation: If you lose a game don’t be mad because you can try again and if you win, don’t be mean to the person that lost. Say good game.”)
Another entry: “home less peple you should be very very nice to them. You should giv something that the home less peple will love and make them feell good and make them not so home less lik giving money and close and food and a house mos of all love.”
(Translation: “Homeless people you should be very nice to them. You should give them something that the homeless people will love and make them feel good and make them not so homeless, like giving money and clothes and food and a house. Most of all love.”)
I’m glad I read her journal. YES I’M GLAD. Because it showed me my daughter is a sympathetic, sweet girl who thinks of others. Will I continue breaking into her journal? Absolutely not. As soon as she can spell properly, I swear I’ll stop. I will, won’t I?
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