My Dear Girls,
During your Aunt Cassie’s wedding celebration, a “FLASH FLOOD WARNING” alert sounded on my phone. I quickly assessed our location. We were situated partway up a hill, but inside a temporary tent, and you were all playing with your cousins nearby.
My mind raced, considering how to gather you and ensure our safety, if necessary. However, I realized I wasn’t entirely sure what to do.
Just a few days later, on the way to school, you were amazed by the Potomac River’s high water level. On that very same day, floodwaters rapidly inundated the ground floor of an elementary school in , trapping 150 students and teachers. They had to be rescued by emergency personnel using boats.
Now, as we prepare for summer camp, some parents are experiencing the devastating loss of children, about your age, who won’t be returning from their summer camp.
The challenging reality for parents today is that our children are growing up in a climate that is constantly changing. Increased rainfall, storms that used to occur once a century, severe droughts, and record-breaking heat are now a part of your everyday lives. The extreme conditions that my generation considered unusual will be normal for you. What we saw as unstable, you will experience as commonplace.
I can still recall Hurricanes like when I was 11 and Hugo when I was 8 years old. Since 2017, you’ve lived through Harvey, Ian, Maria, and Ida—each causing more damage in than Andrew and Hugo combined. Last year, devastated entire towns in North Carolina that were previously thought to be safe from such events.
As the Earth gets warmer, areas with higher moisture levels will hold more water vapor in the atmosphere. This increased water vapor results in heavier rainfall over shorter durations. This increases the likelihood and severity of , such as the . Flooding can happen across the United States, both inland and on the coasts. In 2023, New York City experienced worth of rain in just one day.
Furthermore, 2024 exceeded 2023 as the on record. The ten hottest years ever recorded have all occurred in the past decade. School closures due to “heat days” have become common for children in places , and . In Phoenix, temperatures soared above 110 degrees for a record-breaking number of days, preventing kids from playing in parks during the day. Just recently, your lacrosse camp had to cancel sessions because covered the East Coast.
This signifies that you will face more destructive floods and extreme weather conditions than I could have ever envisioned.
From the moment I first held you, I dreamt of your futures, wishing you well-being, safety, and happiness. But now, as I look at your futures, I am concerned about the limitations brought about by the accelerating changes in our climate.
I’m truly sorry. My generation and those before us haven’t done enough to protect you or prepare you for a successful life in this changing world. We continue to release pollutants that trap heat into our atmosphere, federal action on climate change is regressing, and there are still significant obstacles to taking meaningful action.
While many are worried about the changes they’re seeing, a still don’t fully understand what’s happening, lack the knowledge to discuss it, or feel unsure of what to do.
I used to be one of those people. That changed when I had my . The UN released a report on 1.5 degrees warming, and all the major media outlets indicated we had a decade left to address climate change to avoid the most devastating effects. I felt paralyzed looking at the three of you playing in the basement. My misconceptions shattered: this wasn’t a distant problem, this wasn’t something technology would just fix. I knew your lives would be fundamentally shaped by our changing climate, and I needed to learn and do more.
What I’ve learned is that we *all* have a role to play in securing our shared future, even if we don’t have all the answers. We need to help people, especially your generation, understand this to drive lasting solutions. That begins by talking about it, challenging our own misconceptions, and committing to action.
And as a parent, it means committing to advocating for policies that keep you safe, protect your future, and empower you to make a difference.
Childhood has changed, and that means parenthood must as well. We must all step up to secure a livable world for you and your entire generation to inherit.
Love,
Mom
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