Welcome back. I hope you’re enjoying this series of music to enhance your life. This month I have a list of “letters to our children.” These are all songs that were written from a parent’s standpoint giving advice, or sharing hopes, dreams, and wishes for our children as they grow up.

If you’re new to this series, here’s what you’ve missed.

The first post announcing the new series.

January’s list of motivational and inspirational songs to encourage action.

February’s list of love songs.

This month, I’ve made a change to the list. You’ll notice it is no longer a top 10 list. I didn’t want to be restrained to choosing only 10 songs. Instead, I want to give you a list of AT LEAST 10 songs that fit with the monthly theme. Sometimes, there are just so many good ones that limiting it to 10 is…unfair. I don’t want you to miss out on any of these amazing songs!

Why letters to our children

I absolutely love when artists sing about their children. Whether it be about their birth or them growing up and moving away, it always moves me. Even before I had children of my own these types of songs were special in their own way.

Hearing a mother sing about seeing her baby for the first time or a father watching his little girl get married and move on, it reminds you that we’re all the same. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we’re from, or what we do for a living.  They put into words what many of us feel but aren’t able to express.

Since I’m constantly looking to the future, there is one category of songs about children that always gets me. It’s the ones that are written as if they’re letters to the child. Hopes and dreams for their future, spoken directly to them. Reminders that even when they’re gone, we’ll still always be there for them, and that this will always be their home. And lessons and advice for how to live a good life.

As Zachary grows so quickly before my eyes, and his birthday nears, I think often about these things. I know most parents do.

So here is a selection of great songs that are essentially letters to our children. If you’re looking for a song to play as the background for a graduation slideshow, father daughter dance, or music for a family home video, you’re sure to find a great one in this list.

Songs that were written as letters to our children

1. Never Grow Up-Taylor Swift: She may be young, but she is wise beyond her years. Obviously not written for her own child, but it certainly could have been.

2. Humble & Kind-Tim McGraw: Here’s to hoping our children grow up with the right values, to be good people, stay as sweet and happy as they are right now, and always remember we’re here for them.

3. Simple Man-Lynyrd Skynyrd: From the perspective of the child, now a grown man, this song recants the memory of the advice from his mother. Simple Man is a beautiful song that so accurately conveys what I want for my son’s life.

4. Never Alone-Lady Antebellum and Jim Brickman: Mixed with wishes of only goodness for our children as they move through life, this song is a heavy reminder to them that even after they move on, we will always be there for them.

5. Forever Young-Rod Stuart: Classic song full of wonderful advice for our children as they grow and wishes for them. Also serves as a reminder that to us they will always be our babies, no matter how old they are.

6. God, Your Mama, and Me- Florida Georgia Line: Supposedly, this is a letter to a wife, but the words work for a child from a father as well. There is no love stronger for you than God’s, your Mama’s, and mine.

7. My Little Girl-Tim McGraw: Yep, another Tim McGraw. What can I say, the man likes to write to, and about, his kids. A little girl will ALWAYS be Daddy’s little girl.

8. I loved her First-Heartland: This one was actually the song my dad chose for our dance at my wedding. It serves as a great way for a father to tell his daughter how he really feels, even if he has trouble saying it in words.

9. Stay Beautiful-Taylor Swift: Not really written for a child, but as a Mama, I know we all feel this way about our boys!

10. Here For You- Neil Young: Another parental admission that we don’t want to let our kids go, but we know we have to. And another reminder that when we do, they can always come back.

11. I hope you Dance-LeAnn Womack: A song filled with hopes, mostly about just enjoying life and getting the most out of it.

12. My Wish-Rascal Flatts: Another one filled with wishes for only good and positive things in our children’s lives.

13. You’re Gonna Miss This-Trace Adkins: A father who knows how quickly it all goes by giving his child advice on embracing each season of life. A reminder to not rush through life’s stages.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s installment of music to improve life. Each of these songs touches me and reminds me of my son, how much he means to me, and how badly I want only good for him in his future.

I hope that you find at least one in this list of letters to our children that you connect with. Hopefully, one makes you feel as though it is speaking your own thoughts about your children. Whether they’ve already grown or are brand new to the world, parental love and thoughts of our children’s futures never change. They are always our babies and we will always wish and dream for them.

Stay tuned for the next month’s Top 10 List!

Are there any special “letters to our children” songs that have special meaning to you?  

-To your Better Life-

Kira