This Dad Has Penned a Heartbreaking Letter Urging All Parents to ‘Cherish the Simplest of Things’

A grieving father has taken to Facebook on the anniversary of his three-year-old son’s death to share the ten most important things he has learnt since losing his little boy.

Richard Pringle is encouraging other parents to read and share these lessons following the death of his son, Hughie, following a brain haemorrhage on August 18 last year.

“He had a brain condition but was doing so well,” Richard told Mirror Online.

“There was only a 5% chance of a bleed but unfortunately that 5% chance happened last year and he didn’t survive.”

“He was soft, gentle, caring and so lovable,” Richard said. “He made the boring things fun. He made everything fun.

Reflecting on the loss one year on from Hughie’s death, Richard – who has two other children – has written down the most important lessons the tragedy has taught him, in the hope that other parents will never take their children for granted.

Mr Pringle’s post has been shared over 6,000 times on social media, with many supporters commending the father.

These are his words in full. You might want to grab a tissue.

The 10 most important things I’ve learned since losing my son

1. You can never ever kiss and love too much.

2. You always have time. Stop what you’re doing and play, even if it’s just for minute. Nothing’s that important that it can’t wait.

3. Take as many photos and record as many videos as humanly possible. One day that might be all you have.

4. Don’t spend money, spend time. You think what you spend matters? It doesn’t. What you do matters. Jump in puddles, go for walks. Swim in the sea, build a camp and have fun. That’s all they want. I can’t remember what we bought Hughie I can only remember what we did.

5. Sing. Sing songs together. My happiest memories are of Hughie sitting on my shoulders or sitting next to me in the car singing our favourite songs. Memories are created in music.

6. Cherish the simplest of things. Night times, bedtimes, reading stories. Dinners together. Lazy Sundays. Cherish the simplest of times. They are what I miss the most. Don’t let those special times pass you by unnoticed.

7. Always kiss those you love goodbye and if you forget. Go back and kiss them. You never know if it’s the last time you’ll get the chance.

8. Make boring things fun. Shopping trips, car journeys, walking to the shops. Be silly, tell jokes, laugh, smile and enjoy yourselves. They’re only chores if you treat them like that. Life is too short not to have fun.

9. Keep a journal. Write down everything your little ones do that lights up your world. The funny things they say, the cute things they do. We only started doing this after we lost Hughie. We wanted to remember everything. Now we do it for Hettie and we will for Hennie too. You’ll have these memories written down forever and when you’re older you can look back and cherish every moment.

10. If you have your children with you. To kiss goodnight. To have breakfast with. To walk to school. To take to university. To watch get married. You are blessed. Never ever forget that.

Source: Facebook/Richard Pringle