Ricky Martin’s Father’s Day letter to his kids makes us so emotional
Father’s Day is upon us, and it’s time to give our dads thanks for all that they’ve done for us throughout the years. It’s easy to forget that celebs are normal people, too, and that they celebrate these essential days with their own families as well.
TIME recently published a collection of letters entitled “Letters From Dad.” The letters are written by “influential dads,” and they’re TOTALLY breaking our hearts in the best way possible. One that really got us in the feels is penned by a singer-songwriter we all know and love: Ricky Martin. Ricky is a Grammy-winning superstar who has sold over 70 million albums all over the world. But, more importantly, he’s also a father. And his letter to his kids, Matteo and Valentino, is seriously getting us all misty-eyed over here.
Ricky kicks off the letter gorgeously and intensely. “From the first moment you were in my arms, I have told you how incredibly grateful, honored and blessed I am to be your father,” he writes. “But I don’t believe I ever told you how you changed my life.”
Ricky explains that the number one goal in his life was to be a dad. “I dreamed of it often and found great strength and inspiration from the possibility,” he writes. “When this dream became a reality, you can’t imagine the joy and emotions that filled me. I was anxiously awaiting your arrival, counting the days, the hours, the minutes until your birth. I must have read every book out there about parenting, preparing myself for your arrival.”
And that very first moment was heaven for Ricky. “. . . the first time I held you in my arms, the world stopped for me,” he continued. “The most beautiful and indescribable feeling took over. I felt the purest form of love for the first time in my life. You were finally with me, and I knew I was the luckiest and happiest man in the world!”
Ricky recalls his amazing times with his children — taking them all over the world since they were just two years old. “We learn new things everyday, and I am amazed by anything and everything you do,” he continues (and continues breaking our hearts). “You make me a better person and inspire me to try new things. . . Above all, my beautiful sons, your love gave me the strength to live an honest life. A life of courage and transparency, which fills me with great pride and peace. What an amazing gift you have given me, and I’m forever thankful to you.”
He closes the letter with some beautiful advice to his sons. “If there is anything I want you to live with, aside from knowing that you are unconditionally loved and adored by me and our family and friends, it is that you can be YOURSELF,” he urges. “Don’t ever let anyone or anything make you feel like you can’t be your true self. Whatever you decide to be or do, I will always be by your side.”
OH, OUR HEARTS. He even signed the letter “I love you, Papi.”
The collection of letters also includes influential daddies like Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, creator of FOX’s ‘Empire’, Lee Daniels, actor Ken Jeong, and even Usher. All of them are totally gorgeous and heart-wrenching, and they remind us just how much we adore our own dads.
“Bronx, I remember once asking you what your favorite color was and you said, ‘Red, black and the color of lightning,’” Wentz writes to one of his kids, Bronx. “Never let the world take away your creativity and divergent thinking. Be the color of lighting, be wild, and always laugh a lot.”
“. . . you must live in the most honest way that you can, being as kind as possible to other human beings,” Daniels writes to his children, Clara and Liam. “That’s really the only advice I can give you, because you’re so good at giving me advice. That’s how incredible you are. That’s the plane you’re on.”
ALL OF THE FEELS. Check out the entire collection of letters here, and make sure to write a letter to your own dad, or at least give him a call. Happy Father’s Day, Gigglers!
(Image via.)
