Update: It’s clear on her Instagram that she posted this note because she found it recently after having written it “years ago.” Whatever that means when you are twelve. Based on her Instagram and tumblr it’s fair to say she’s um, very mature for her age. 

I’ve been sort of worried about Willow Smith for a while.  Her Parents, Will and Jada Smith, have taken a very permissive parenting stance when it comes to letting Willow be her own person. While I’m all for kids expressing their creativity, I waver on this stance when it comes to a ten-year-old making a single about whipping her hair around, an 11-year-old with a fake tongue ring, and a twelve-year-old shaving her head bald. I’m not sure where the line on letting kids explore their own personalities should be. Parents need to give children boundaries. Structure provides the kid with a sense of safety. On the other hand, they need to be able to express their feelings. Parents also need to pay attention to those feelings and understand the root cause of the exploratory behaviors.

So what brought this address on parenting from my little soapbox this morning? Willow has posted the letter pictured above on her Instagram account. Which raises many questions. Should a 12-year-old have an Instagram account? Isn’t the age limit for most social media 14? Also, is Willow getting the proper education?  The letter which reads, “Dear Tupac, I know you are alive some place. I think that my mommy really misses you. Can you please come back so mommy and me can be happy! I wish you were here… I really do! Love, Willow.” isn’t very well written.  She also doesn’t seem to understand that Tupac died. Interestingly, Jada went to High School with Tupac. Is Willow trying to find a man that will make her mother and herself happy? Problems on the homefront?

Did Willow post this letter as a cry for help? Or is this typical middle-school behavior? Thoughts?

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