My Dearest Daughter,
I snapped this picture of you yesterday knowing that it would be a busy day and 
I might not get the chance later. Yesterday was your first time to march in the parade with the band. It was also your first time to get a Homecoming mum, so it was kind of a special day. I know you weren't thrilled about having your picture made; selfies seem to be the only pictures you like to take lately.
I'm thinking that you subjected yourself to having your picture made because you had grace for your loving, overly excited mother who still wants to document your "firsts". -Either that, or you knew I was about to find out what happened to my iPod and you were hoping I would remember this small kindness you showed me; a sort of I'll grin and bear it, won't you too?
A little past 8:00 AM yesterday I read the letter you specified I read at that time. So. You spilled finger nail polish remover on my iPod and ruined it? And you let me know in a two page apology letter scheduled to be read while you were safe at school. Well-played. A little sneaky, but well-played.
I will say that I'm proud of the way you're taking responsibility for the effect of your accident. It's so easy to make a list of excuses of why it wasn't your fault. Or you could just convince me that it was an accident that should go unpunished. It was, after all, an accident.
It was unintentional like tripping, or spilling a drink, or forgetting an appointment, or locking your keys in your car. Accidents don't require an apology, but I'm glad you're mindful that they go a long way in reaching out to the person affected by your accident. Apologizing shows regret and concern. It doesn't insinuate intentionality. I know my iPod is ruined, but not due to some act of disobedience or disrespect.
Shocked at my handling this so well? I'm pretty shocked myself. I kept my cool, at least one other time, when your brother was about three. I'd just bought a dragonfly sun catcher. Hayden picked it up, dropped it, and it broke, just like that! From some well of wisdom, much deeper than my fickle but powerful emotions, I said, "It was just a thing; people are more important than things." I think you've heard me say that very phrase a number of times. Of course I'm probably saying it to you or your brother or sister. I forget to say it to myself sometimes.
Still we do best to take a good look at our blunders; thinking on how we might avoid them in the future-
like, say.... don't have an open container of nail polish remover near anything you don't want ruined
or always acknowledge that your keys are in your hands before you hit the lock button
Blunders are teachers.
Your letter showed me that you learned
that some messes can't be fixed
and that accidents can have effect on others; not just the one who made the mess.
You said you learned that you shouldn't "mistreat the privileges you're given" (by leaving the iPod by your bed).
and that offering to attempt to correct your mistake is always the right thing to do (even when the recipient of your offer seems unkind or unforgiving).
This was just an accident. And all this learning you've done leaves me with little to do in this situation. I think in the future, I'll just focus more on higher matters.
I'm putting in writing that I devote myself to attitudes and intentions (or lack thereof). I am telling myself that things are things; that messes and mistakes happen. And I'm reminding myself that even if a mess happens as a result of disobedience, I do best to focus on the attitude and not the mess.
God looks at the heart, and so should I.
Yesterday I'd lost an ipod. But I watched my daughter growing in maturity and beauty. I'd say I gained.
Thanks for giving me permission to share this. It's nice to learn from each other.