Brooke Wertz wanted her boys to know their cousins even though the families lived 800 miles apart. The California mom teamed up with her sister in Utah to launch a cousin pen-pal program that turned occasional visits into daily smiles at the mailbox.
At a Glance
- A DIY letter station keeps cousins connected across state lines
- Kids trade hand-drawn pictures, stickers and tiny treats through the mail
- The ritual continues even after the families moved minutes apart
- Why it matters: Simple, low-cost ideas can strengthen family bonds for life
The 800-Mile Problem
Wertz tells News Of Losangeles that geography once limited her sons to seeing their cousins only a few times a year. The cousins lived scattered across Utah and Idaho while her family called California home. She refused to let distance define their childhood relationships.
“I decided to start the pen-pals because all my boys’ cousins were in Utah and Idaho, and we were in California,” Wertz explains. “They saw their cousins only a few times a year, and I wanted to find more ways to connect with the cousins so that they could have a deep friendship.”
Building the Station
Wertz filmed her restocking routine for Instagram. The clip shows her loading a small home workstation with supplies:
- White and colored paper
- Envelopes and stamps
- A Polaroid camera
- Colored pencils, glitter and washi tape
- Sheets of stickers
The station sits ready so letters can fly out the door the moment a new envelope arrives. “My boys and their cousins LOVE it,” Wertz says.
What Goes Inside
Because her sons are still pre-readers, words take a back seat to art. Each envelope typically contains:
- A hand-traced outline of the sender’s hand
- Pages crowded with stickers
- Occasional surprises such as a single dollar bill or a stick of gum
- Drawings of whatever superheroes or princesses the cousins currently adore
The goal is surprise, not perfection. “We try to include things that we know the cousins are into,” Wertz notes.
The Reply Rule
Speed keeps excitement high. “We try to stay on top of it by writing back immediately when we receive a letter, so we don’t forget,” Wertz says. Quick turnarounds mean no one waits weeks wondering if their artwork reached its target.
Moving Home, Keeping the Habit
Life recently shrank the distance. “Since posting this video, we actually have moved back to Utah and we now see cousins fairly often,” Wertz tells News Of Losangeles. Yet the letters keep coming.
“Their relationships are very close-knit, and I think by doing all the small extra things – like cousin pen-pals and FaceTiming – [it] really strengthened those cousin bonds,” she says. “Even though we live only minutes away from cousins now, they still enjoy writing and receiving letters.”
Future Mail Goals
Wertz already dreams bigger. “Care packages would be so fun!” she says. For now she sticks with slim envelopes because the reaction is priceless either way. “However, it’s crazy how excited kids get receiving things as simple as a letter. As parents, we receive so much mail (bills, statements, etc.), and seeing how your child’s face lights up with a simple letter is worth it.”
The Bigger Picture
The program serves a deeper mission. “My main focus is finding ways to strengthen family bonds and build loving relationships,” Wertz says. “Those take effort! I didn’t have many cousins growing up, and I wanted to do everything in my power to help my kids feel loved and supported by everyone in their circle, but that’s not an overnight achievement. It takes time, it takes creativity, it takes effort.”
Key Takeaways
- A shoebox of supplies and a book of stamps can outshine expensive trips
- Young kids who cannot yet write can still share art, stickers and tiny treasures
- Quick replies keep anticipation alive
- Physical mail feels magical in a digital era
- Family closeness demands intentional, repeated gestures, not grand one-time events
