Daughter turns her mum's inspirational lunchbox notes into a project over a decade later

When Stephanie Skylar began writing heartwarming lunchbox notes for her 12-year-old daughter, Skylar Gould, that lasted throughout her sixth grade year at school (year 7), we doubt she realised what an impact they would have on Skylar’s life.

She wrote her youngster a little message every day for a year – each one containing some words of wisdom about confidence, how to treat others, perseverence, and determination - and the advice seemed to stick with Skylar.

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Because she kept every single one of her mother’s inspirational notes in a shoebox in her room, and now, 11 years later, she’s turned them into a truly amazing project.

Studying for her graphic design master’s at Ohio University, Skylar needed to complete a thesis. Stumbling upon a book about the power of handwritten letters, it suddenly dawned on her that she should revisit her own series of letters, and so the Advice From My Mom project arose.

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‘I had forgotten they existed,’ Skylar told ABC News. ‘I came across a book about handwritten letters and I had an epiphany where I remembered about them. I called my mom and she still had them all. I started working on my project and it evolved into a website over the past year.’

Skylar, who is now 23 years old, kept her plan a secret until her mother’s birthday. And Stephanie was unsurprisingly taken aback by her daughter’s sentimental project.

‘Of course I burst out crying; I was so thrilled and touched. It was amazing she did this, and it was certainly effective for her project,’ she said.

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Skylar and her mum

But as well as making this heart-warming project, which has contributed to her achieving a master’s degree, Skylar says her mother’s handwritten notes have had an even greater impact on her life.

‘It was important to me and I loved getting them. Rereading them for the first time, there were things that stuck with me that I didn’t realize stuck with me.’

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‘I think my sense of confidence comes from them. I was always really shy as a kid, but through my young adulthood so far I’ve had that sense of confidence and pride in myself and my work because of how my mother has always talked to me.

‘Through the written word, it really stays with you more than just hearing it every day.’