Hello Kitty says: “Unconditional love can be complicated!”

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Hello Kitty says: “Unconditional love can be complicated!”

September 23rd, 2011 · 59 comments

Melody in Schenectady, New York says her 7-year-old daughter, Emma, is constantly writing little stories and whatnot, which inevitably end up all over the house. As Melody was picking up some of Emma’s latest scraps, she found this note addressed to her 4-year-old sister.

related: S is for sibling rivalry

FILED UNDER: kids · New York · siblings · signed with love

59 responses so far ↓

#1 UnclGhost

The added smile to Hello Kitty is a nice touch. Someday this kid will be adding smileys to passive-aggressive emails like nobody’s business.

Sep 23, 2011 at 11:15 am rating: 35

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- #1.1 Amy in Toronto
  
  I didn’t even notice the added smile to Hello Kitty until you pointed it out. That just made my day.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 12:51 pm rating: 7
- #1.2 The Elf
  
  That big red joker smile on Hello Kitty makes me shudder, especially after the comment about “driving me crazy”. (We can overlook the spelling because she’s a little kid.) Why so serious, Addison? Melody, if she starts putting on white face paint and insists on purple clothes, I suggest you take her counseling.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 1:50 pm rating: 22
- #1.3 Rattus
  
  I don’t think it’s a smile, I think it’s a harness gag.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 1:51 pm rating: 18
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#2 Mishee™

Written in highlighter… no doubt yet another glimpse into the future of P/A notes for this young one…

Sep 23, 2011 at 11:18 am rating: 7

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- #2.1 Jimmy James
  
  You need highlighter to indicate which parts are important.
  
  In this case, she decided the whole thing was important.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 7:45 pm rating: 8
- #2.2 cizzerhand
  
  I believe the pen to be a Mr. Sketch light green (or Mint-scented) marker. The added dimension of scent would have made the note all the more memorable. Choosing mint as the keynote fragrance was a clever way to trigger Emma’s memory of the note while she brushed her teeth. The dark pink (or Raspberry) smile was just a friendly addition as a mint chaser.
  
  Never underestimate the power of intention in a child.
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 12:57 am rating: 13
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#3 Astounder

At least she’s honest!

Sep 23, 2011 at 11:23 am rating: 4

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#4 shwo!

They’re so cute when they still use only one color.

Sep 23, 2011 at 11:55 am rating: 24

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- #4.1 sonnybishop
  
  Sorry, Shwo, but since she added the smile to Hello Kitty, she actually used two colors. She could be a contender.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 12:24 pm rating: 4
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#5 Amy in Toronto

I’m curious as to whether Addison can even read this note; and if she can, then what her response to Emma will be.

Sep 23, 2011 at 1:26 pm rating: 4

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#6 C

“Addison?” Really? This Anglo-Saxon last-names-used-for-first-names trend has GOT to stop.

Sep 23, 2011 at 2:40 pm rating: 31

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- #6.1 galesburgbrat
  
  Funny you say that – I thought the same thing when looking through baby name trends a couple years ago. Oddly, Addison was one I’d considered for a boy – it struck me as almost a masculine form of Allison.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 4:32 pm rating: 3
- #6.2 Anon
  
  Agreed. It’s not unique or cute. It’s nauseating. Makes me sick how people have taken Scottish clan names for their little high maintenance girls, too.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 6:06 pm rating: 10
- #6.3 Teee
  
  I wonder if anyone realises that last names have been used as first names for as long as last names were required. Addison litteraly means “Son of Andrew” or something similar. You should be more weirded out by their use of a boy’s name for a girl than the fact it’s also a last name.
  
  I think the trend of people getting offended at the naming trends of others has GOT to STOP, when are people gonna stop acting like they own the concept of names?
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 6:37 pm rating: 30
- #6.4 Grettt
  
  Wow, it’s not that serious. People get annoyed by the silliest things. “It’s GOT to stop” Ha!
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 6:59 pm rating: 11
- #6.5 Jimmy James
  
  “This Anglo-Saxon last-names-used-for-first-names trend has GOT to stop.”
  
  Charlton Heston called, he said you can pry his last-name-for-first-name from his cold dead hands.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 7:53 pm rating: 30
- #6.6 Canthz_B
  
  Freeman Dyson would have so much more of a sphere of influence with a different first name.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 11:13 pm rating: 8
- #6.7 AuntyBron
  
  Neat-O, CB I wish I could give you two thumbs up.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 11:44 pm rating: 1
- #6.8 Gendernames
  
  This American trend of giving kids names of the other gender really worries me. I’ve dealt with people and was utterly shocked when meeting them or talking about them with others, they were the wrong sex!
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 9:13 am rating: 8
- #6.9 Nami
  
  I agree the gender name swap can be a bit confusing…. I work at a store where we have these rewards cards that pop up with the customers’ names when we scan them. I once had a customer’s name come up as Jan so I told the guy, “oh is Jan your wife? What a lovely name.” The answer? “Um, that’s my name.”
  
  But other than that, what a cute note. Sounds like an up and coming future writer
  
  Sep 25, 2011 at 8:03 am rating: 2
- #6.10 Jess
  
  Jan is not a gender swap name – it springs from Central/Eastern European countries with Slavik roots, where ‘j’ is ‘y’ as in ‘yak’. Thus, the name would be pronounced Yan, and is their closest equivalent of names like Ian. People with CE European heritage just tend to get used to their names being mispronounced, until the new pronunciation practically becomes their name.
  
  Sep 25, 2011 at 11:32 am rating: 3
- #6.11 grammar nazi
  
  jan michael vincent (who has 3 first names in his name) thanks you.
  
  Sep 25, 2011 at 11:58 am rating: 2
- #6.12 Nami
  
  oops… Thank you for clearing that up Jess. :-$
  
  Sep 25, 2011 at 2:22 pm rating: 0
- #6.13 Kristin
  
  I find it interesting that most of you who criticized this little girl’s name won’t post your own name! And if some of you critics did post your own name…well…don’t throw stones in glass houses!
  Anon- is that short for anonymous? Enough said.
  
  Sep 26, 2011 at 5:51 am rating: 1
- #6.14 The Elf
  
  It’s because we’re ashamed of ours. Our parents fell for the naming tends, and we’re all Braden, Madison/Madyson, Caitlin/Katelynne, Jayden, Brittani, Taylor (either gender), Kayla, Bailey (either gender), Addison, Aiden, or Jordan (either gender).
  
  The Emmas and Jacobs count themselves lucky. There might be a half-dozen in each class, but at least people spell it right on the first try.
  
  My name is C8t’dRynne. Gotta pop your mouth in the middle to get the right sound. The d is silent. I’m changing it to Elf as soon as I get the chance. It’s way better.
  
  Sep 26, 2011 at 7:39 am rating: 9
- #6.15 WMDKitty
  
  To those saying “STFU” to people pointing out the name absurdities:
  
  I have EVERY GODDAMN RIGHT to criticize names that WILL result in a child never being hired anywhere other than a strip joint or fast-food joint. (Lakeesha, Taniqua, JaShon, LeBron, LaTanya, Jamal, ESPN…)
  
  Sep 27, 2011 at 1:40 am rating: 2
- #6.16 Canthz_B
  
  Kristin, these ARE our names. Don’t be so presumptuous. How’d you like it if I said your name should be “Kristen”?
  
  Sep 28, 2011 at 1:59 am rating: 1
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#7 Kayden

Am I the only one who can’t read what this says?

Sep 23, 2011 at 2:57 pm rating: 2

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- #7.1 Hmmm
  
  Yes.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 3:13 pm rating: 26
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#8 TinyBallOfLight

It took me about five re-reads to comprehend that “sud beniserto m<3e" in fact meant "should be nicer to me." Ha ha! Little kids… =)

But, I think the important thing to note is the correct spelling of the following 2 words:

Love
You

Food for thought…

Sep 23, 2011 at 3:58 pm rating: 7

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- #8.1 me but
  
  also “me” and “but”
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 6:57 pm rating: 0
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#9 Quite Contrary

The real question is do they share a room? Why the need for a note?

Sep 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm rating: 0

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#10 Alir

I thought that said that Emma is the 4 year old. The writing would make much more sense.

Sep 23, 2011 at 7:59 pm rating: 3

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- #10.1 AuntyBron
  
  Emma the note writer is 7, little sister Addison is 4.
  
  Sep 23, 2011 at 11:46 pm rating: 0
- #10.2 WMDKitty
  
  Nope. That writing is acceptable, MAYBE, for a five year old writing with their off-hand. But NOT for a seven year old — especially with the crap spelling and fucked up (backwards) letters.
  
  If this DID come from a seven year old, the kid’s obviously retarded.
  
  Sep 27, 2011 at 1:42 am rating: 6
- #10.3 The Elf
  
  ….. That kid has better handwriting than me.
  
  Granted, my spelling is better. I also use punctuation.
  
  (I understand that is more a reflection on my illegible chickenscratch than it is a compliment to her abilities.)
  
  Sep 27, 2011 at 6:27 am rating: 2
- #10.4 Kat
  
  Yeah…At 7, you should be able to spell “should” and “crazy” correctly. At least I know I was able to!
  
  7 is, what…2nd grade? When you’re supposed to be reading chapter books?
  
  Oct 11, 2011 at 8:59 pm rating: 2
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#11 Leonna

yay Schenectady NY! I think it breeds passive aggressive sibling rivalries. Or just aggressive, if having a chunk of my arm out by my younger sister counts as sibling rivalry.

Sep 23, 2011 at 8:14 pm rating: 3

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- #11.1 The Elf
  
  Having siblings breeds siblings rivalry!
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 10:29 am rating: 6
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#12 Educational Reform

This would have mad a lot more sense if the 4-year-old had written the note. A 7-year-old with such atrocious writing/spelling/language skills? Yikes. Sad, sad state of affairs in our schools.

Sep 23, 2011 at 11:41 pm rating: 8

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- #12.1 Poison
  
  I worked in a kindergarten classroom – and have a four year old cousin. At four, most children are just learning to read simple words. So this is an accurate representation of an average 7 year old’s spelling and grammatical skills. Plus, she probably has better form at school – this was just scrolled on hello kitty paper at home. At six and seven, most children have to actively sound out each word – they are simply spelling things out how they sound. This doesn’t mean that the school isn’t doing their job – or that the child is below average. You obviously haven’t spent that much time with children this age in an educational setting. And that was an ignorant remark. Perhaps you should read a book on child development?
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 12:18 am rating: 30
- #12.2 Jessi
  
  I think the problem is that too many parents think “average” is perfectly acceptable these days.
  
  Whatever happened to the way of thinking which brought us the expression, “Shoot for the moon. If you miss, at least you’ll land among the stars”?
  
  Nowadays, the quote could more easily read, “Shoot for the moon. If you miss, that’s okay – we’ll still go out for ice cream.”
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 3:18 am rating: 12
- #12.3 Educational Reform
  
  @Poison: I don’t think you understand my point. If this child’s development is below average, I apologize for my comment. But I can remember that I, at 7, had fantastic spelling, grammar, and penmanship. At the age of 4, I wrote down a list of the contents of my mom’s dresser. Granted, I wrote that she had “8 jewelleries,” but at least I had some idea of what was going on. This child needs to read. A lot. Parents should stop babysitting kids with TVs and electronic toys. Reading is the key to our children’s futures.
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 5:09 am rating: 14
- #12.4 SilentPsycho
  
  Education Reform, you do realise that electronic toys such as video games actually help improve reading skills, as well as hand-eye co-ordination?
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 7:02 am rating: 7
- #12.5 Poison
  
  Well, then let me apologize. I had no idea that you set the standards that we must all now uphold. You do realize that you basically called into question an innocent 7 year old little girl’s intellect to go off on a tangent about television and video games, correct? And doing so with no actual knowledge about said child or any proper study in child development.
  
  Trolling – you’re failing at it.
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 9:26 am rating: 19
- #12.6 bookworm
  
  This is about on par with high schoolers.
  
  Sep 24, 2011 at 2:11 pm rating: 3
- #12.7 Educational Reform
  
  @Poison: OK, go ahead, put a gold star on all kids’ foreheads for doing nothing but existing. Let’s reward them for their subpar performance just for having “tried.”
  
  We rank #1 in the world in obesity, fast food consumption, and consumption of mindless trashy entertainment, but rank #37 amongst developed countries in education. U.S. public schools lag behind the schools of other developed countries in the areas of reading, math, and science. So please get off your presumed “every-kid-is-developmentally-different” high horse and just understand the damning facts for a minute. The U.S. is falling behind.
  
  No one is calling into question this particular 7-year-old’s innocence. Trust me, I think she’s adorable and innocent and is probably a doll and a charmer. Please don’t accuse me of callous insensitivity. I feel sorry for this poor child that she has not received adequate education.
  
  @SilentPsycho: Sure, electronic toys improve hand eye coordination, but so do outdoor sports. And you know what improves reading skills? Picking up a freaking book.
  
  Sep 25, 2011 at 12:52 am rating: 11
- #12.8 WMDKitty
  
  Poison — WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
  
  If that’s “acceptable” for a seven year old… well, we’re fucked. Because these kids are our future. And if they can’t write… *SMH*
  
  Sep 27, 2011 at 1:43 am rating: 6
- #12.9 ISpy
  
  I can’t stand it any longer. C’mon. It’s a note from a 7 year-old to her 4 year-old sister. She is “writing what she hears” which is acceptable and even encouraged at this age because it empowers kids to try to write words far beyond their reading level. Only Emma’s teacher and parents know if this is representative of her writing skills in a school setting.
  
  EdReform, you are very quick to damn the public schools and ignore developmental factors. Why are you taking a swipe at public schools based on one child’s (authentic) informal note-writing? And if you are going to start throwing around “facts” and figures, please cite your sources. While you are at it, read this:
  
  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2016208527_pacificpteachers25.html
  
  We need to have a more informed, productive national conversation.
  
  And yes, I am a teacher.
  
  Sep 27, 2011 at 10:23 pm rating: 2
- #12.10 Educational Reform
  
  @ISpy: Clearly you have a chip on your shoulder. Maybe it’s your inadequacy as a teacher and you are trying to shrug the guilt. Maybe your solution is to mollycoddle everyone. Who knows?
  
  My facts and figures weren’t thrown around, as you so arrogantly accuse. My statistics re: America’s educational rankings are from the Programme for International Student Assessment. Statistics re: obesity are from the International Association for the Study of Obesity. Statistics re: food consumption are from the U.S.D.A. Economic Research Service. And stats re: entertainment consumption are from the U.S. Department of Labor. Questions?
  
  By the way, please don’t post a link of a tediously long and poorly written article to make up for the lack of arguments on your side. That’s just weak.
  
  As for your creative use of quotation marks, I simply laugh.
  
  And no, I am not a teacher, but I sure could school you.
  
  Sep 28, 2011 at 3:20 am rating: 3
- #12.11 ISpy
  
  I asked for an informed, productive conversation. That is not going to happen with the likes of you. Weak, indeed.
  
  Sep 28, 2011 at 4:58 pm rating: 0
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#13 Jamie

The Hello Kitty note paper just makes me smile.

Sep 24, 2011 at 4:43 am rating: 0

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#14 Poppie

I think Mom needs to keep the note.

Sep 24, 2011 at 12:53 pm rating: 3

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#15 Somebody Else

I think the note is adorable. She is seven. She likes to write, cool. She is “using her words” to write a note to her sister, instead of hitting or yelling, which is swell.

The fact that her sister most likely cannot even read the note is what makes it so good.

The brains in small children are still under construction – they don’t quite think the way they will a few years later.

I agree with Poppie – Mom needs to keep the note.

Sep 24, 2011 at 9:37 pm rating: 10

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#16 Dr. Chalkwitheringlicktacklefeff

She named her kid “Addison”? Or is she actually called “Madison” and the 7-year-old just mis-spelled it?

Madison is still a weird name.

Sep 25, 2011 at 4:15 am rating: 1

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#17 Nami

“I still love y but you drive me crase.” Why So Serious?

Sep 25, 2011 at 8:22 am rating: 2

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#18 WMDKitty

Kid needs some serious tutoring on spelling and handwriting. Note is unreadable.

Sep 27, 2011 at 1:37 am rating: 2

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#19 sophie

NICE hahahah
http://sophie-andersen.blogspot.com/
xx Sophie

Sep 28, 2011 at 5:34 pm rating: 0

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