Dear Inday

Dear Inday I'm Leticia Rae from Ormoc City, Philippines. This space is a love letter to my daughter, Inday.

Dear Inday,Your first letter was H. The first time you wrote it down on a piece of paper I squealed and jumped up and do...
20/08/2026

Dear Inday,

Your first letter was H. The first time you wrote it down on a piece of paper I squealed and jumped up and down.

Today, you wrote your second letter, “A”, at the beach using a twig. I jumped up and down again. And squealed, of course.

These reminded me of Luke 2:51.

“And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart."

August 8, 2026 - You wrote “H” on a piece of paper that is now gloriously displayed alongside my beautiful books.

August 20, 2026 - You wrote “A” on sand. Already washed away by the sea. But forever etched in my heart.

Dear Inday, Today I learned something valuable from you. We were reading Katy No Pocket. Katy Kangaroo had an apron with...
16/08/2026

Dear Inday,

Today I learned something valuable from you. We were reading Katy No Pocket. Katy Kangaroo had an apron with several pockets. In one pocket, there was a baby monkey in it.

I started teasing you and asking you what you were doing in the pocket. You answered by saying that it wasn’t you. It was a baby monkey. But I was enjoying teasing you. Eventually, you giggled and said, “Hehe. That’s me, Mama! Ooh ooh ah ah!”

You did not get irritated at all, my love. You did not become sad nor defensive. I’m 43 and sometimes opinions of other people irritate me.

So the next time your Lolo asks me if I really don’t want to practice law again and just sell books instead, I know what to say:

“Hehe. That’s me, Dabid! Ooh ooh ah ah!”

Dear Mama,I had a terribly long day today but I still had to read to Inday at bedtime. I picked up the shortest read I c...
06/08/2026

Dear Mama,

I had a terribly long day today but I still had to read to Inday at bedtime. I picked up the shortest read I could find. A book with lots of pictures and not so many words called The Carrot Seed.

Inday, on the other hand, wanted to read a longer one, The Best Nest. I insisted on my choice. She insisted on hers. No one was capitulating. This went back and forth for quite some time. She then stood up. I smiled the smile of a victor. Then she pushed the book I was holding and said, “You read that yourself.”

Mama, was I little as***le too? If I was, I’m sorry.

Inday’s asleep now. She looks happy. Probably still dreaming of The Best Nest which we read twice before we turned the lights off.

Dear Inday,Yesterday, an author launched his poetry collection at our bookshop. I was looking forward to hear him read o...
26/07/2026

Dear Inday,

Yesterday, an author launched his poetry collection at our bookshop. I was looking forward to hear him read out loud his poems. To hear the voice behind the words that have kept me company for the last few weeks.

But while I was there, excited and ready to hear him, you were outside asking your papa if you could go in. You couldn’t. It was for big people. Not for little ones.

Your papa was able to persuade you to help him clean his car under the tambis tree facing the bookshop. Soon both of you were laughing and horsing around while wiping his car down. I tried to listen to the author’s words but I couldn’t stop looking at the both of you. I knew then what I had to do.

I opened the door of the bookshop, stepped out, grabbed a croffle from your Tita Aidz, looked back to the author, smiled, and walked towards you.

You and your papa were very happy to see me. Even happier when you saw the croffle.

Maybe some beautiful things are meant to be experienced with one hand and a clip-on reading lamp as your little one lies aslumber in the crook of your arm. And that’s just fine. Cos it makes you experience something else beautiful with car wipes and croffles and smiles on a windy day under a tambis tree.

Dear Inday, I promise to hold you, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and...
12/07/2026

Dear Inday,

I promise to hold you, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.

Love,
Mama

Dear Inday,It’s been over a month since I last wrote to you. We opened a bookshop and it has been very exciting for the ...
07/07/2026

Dear Inday,

It’s been over a month since I last wrote to you. We opened a bookshop and it has been very exciting for the both of us. But with that excitement came busyness.

Tonight we decided to take it slow. We retired to our bedroom early. We talked about our day. We read. We hugged like Koala Lou and her mommy. We got sad when Elephant dropped his ice cream. We laughed when you stroked my face and said, “Grandma, you’re so cute”.

We were fully present. Well, I was. Cos you always have been, my little one. It’s me whose mind has been on the bookshop more than in the present. Forgive me. Na excite lang imong inahan.

I hugged you very tight tonight. Extra tight. I smelled your breath. Your Lactacyd Baby-scented hair. And I swore to you that I loved you more than the bookshop. Not much more. But still more. You smiled. I’m not sure whether you got the joke. But you smiled. And that’s all that matters.

Love,

Mama

Dear Inday,Each day you make a new friend in the bookshop. For a few minutes you run around, go through books and do you...
27/05/2026

Dear Inday,

Each day you make a new friend in the bookshop. For a few minutes you run around, go through books and do your dinosaur talk together.

And each time you are saddened when they leave. That’s life, my love.

At least you have your books.

And me, of course.

Love,
Mama

Dear Inday, I’ve been running around a bit more for the last two weeks. We’re opening a little bookshop. You’re still be...
12/05/2026

Dear Inday,

I’ve been running around a bit more for the last two weeks. We’re opening a little bookshop. You’re still beside me nearly all day. But my mind has obviously been elsewhere. Cos you stretched out your arms to me, your whole being to me, and cried, “Mama, please baby me. Baby me, Mama, please.”

Oh, Inday, naka hilak ko. I’m sorry, my love. I’ll do better by you. Drawing drawing lang ugma sa ako tapad while mag inventory ko. Ayaw lang drawangi ang inventory.

I love you so much, dadoy.

- Mama

Tonight’s prayer:“In the name of the FatherThank you for GingerAmen.”I think we need to work on your prayers, nak.
20/04/2026

Tonight’s prayer:

“In the name of the Father
Thank you for Ginger
Amen.”

I think we need to work on your prayers, nak.

Dear Inday,It was your third day at ballet class. Just like the first two times, you didn’t join the group. But like the...
18/04/2026

Dear Inday,

It was your third day at ballet class. Just like the first two times, you didn’t join the group. But like the first two times, you tried to make a friend.

You tried 5x today. With 5 different girls. And you were rejected 5x too. With each rejection you’d slowly walk back to me. Sometimes you’d scratch your head. You would sit down beside me and look up at me and smile and say, “Hi, Mama”. And each time my heart would sink a little lower.

Then your cousin Darcy arrived a few minutes early for her class, the one after yours. She arrived with all the confidence and energy of a fireball. She ran to you, grabbed your hand, and pulled you up. And off you went!

Not only did you finish your class but you begged me to let you join Darcy’s. And you did everything, my love! From start to finish. You tapped, you did that fancy bending of the knees (ambot unsay tawag ana), you flapped your arms, you giggled, you ran, you stood on your tippy toes, you laughed, you squealed, you drank loads of water, you posed for a picture, you made my heart soar. You were a little fireball. All because your Ate Darcy was there beside you.

Tonight, before we read Corduroy for the 117th time, we both thanked God for Ate Darcy. We always thank God for her but tonight we specially thanked God for her. She held you today and she did not let go. I pray that you never ever let go of each other. 🥹

I asked you a few minutes ago if you still wanted to join ballet tomorrow. You looked at me and smiled, “I want, Mama.”

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Ormoc City
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