An Open Letter to Our Baby

To our first baby.

Yesterday your Hebamme Margaritha came to meet me for the first time at home. She gave me this:

So it is not that far - only some more weeks! We are excited...

Your Dad decided to drop some lines for you...

To our first baby...

The one who made us a mom and a dad.

The one who taught us how to be parents.

Dear Little One,

our lives changed in so many ways when we learned you would came into the world. Although we knew you would create those wonders, the way you changed our world is only something you can only understand when you will also set up your family and become your children.

That means you'll never truly know the love we have for you, or the way it felt the first time we will lock eyes, we will hold you for the first time or brought you into the world. Thats why your Mom and Dad are writing you this letter-to remind you how much you mean to us and what we wish for you on your journey. Remember, our love for you is and always will be infinite.

Dear Our Little One,                                                             Dalaman, Biberach, 15 August 2024

Welcome to this beautiful and complex world!

As you will soon embark on this journey of life, there are a few guiding thoughts your Mom and I’d like to share with you, thoughts that will hopefully help you navigate the many wonders and challenges you will encounter. Among these, the role of art and music and the power of education stand out as particularly significant.

From your earliest days, we will try our best that you’ll hear music—a language that speaks directly to the heart. Music is not just a form of entertainment; it’s a profound expression of culture, emotion, and the human experience. Vinicius de Moraes, Duman,  İbrahim Maalouf... Listening to music from different cultures will open your mind to the richness of the world around you. It will teach you to appreciate diversity and to understand that while we may all have different rhythms and melodies, we share the same fundamental emotions: joy, sorrow, love, and hope. Remember: those flourish best on fertile ground of wisdom.

As you grow, make time for reading. Books are windows into other lives, other worlds, and other ways of thinking. They will teach you empathy by allowing you to see the world through someone else’s eyes. Coupled with music, reading will broaden your understanding of the human condition, helping you to recognise the common threads that connect us all, regardless of our backgrounds or beliefs.

Education and art in general will be your key to make great friends and understanding this vast and varied world. It’s more than just acquiring knowledge; it’s about learning esthetics, about to think critically, to ask questions, and to seek answers. A universal education will expose you to different perspectives and ideas, helping you to break down the barriers of fear and ignorance. As your Mom and Dad, we learned from experience: It’s easy to fear what we don’t understand, and ignorance often breeds prejudice. But with education, you can light the way, not just for yourself but for others too.

As you become more conscious of the world around you, you’ll notice the tendency of people to blame others for their difficulties. This is often rooted in fear, misunderstanding, or a lack of empathy. But you, little one, can choose a different path. Art, music and education offer you this peaceful way to move beyond blame, towards a more reflective and compassionate approach to life’s challenges. When you listen to a piece of music from a culture different from your own, or when you read a story about someone who lives halfway across the globe, or fell in love with a painting or sculpture, you are practicing empathy. You are stepping into another’s shoes and learning to understand their joys and sorrows.

Art and music have a unique power to unite us, to transcend language and cultural barriers, and to remind us of our shared humanity. It can soothe us in times of sorrow and inspire us in moments of joy. Let it be a constant companion in your life as a reminder of the beauty and diversity.

As you grow, do not forget about your roots but also the Children of Bo in Sierra Leone, especially Alimamy and Cem (born early 2023) in Africa… We wish you always to be curious, open-minded, and kind-hearted. Use your education to seek out truth and understanding. Listen to the music of the world and let it guide you towards a more inclusive and harmonious society. In doing so, you will not only enrich your own life but also contribute to a world where people move away from division and towards connection, away from blame and towards empathy.

Remember, our dear little one, the world is as vast as it is beautiful, and with the guidance of our world heritage, you too will have the power to fall in love with it and will try to make it a better place for everyone!