Dear Dad,
Mother's Day used to be a terrible day for me. I used to feel bitter every time I would scroll through my social media and see hundreds of photos of my friends with their moms. I used to always stay home on the second Sunday of May because I didn't want to go see swarms of people at the grocery store buying last minute flowers and cards for the most amazing woman in their lives, or moms and daughters in matching dresses at church. Mother's Day used to be a reminder of all that I was missing. I didn't have a mom to celebrate like everyone else. All I had was bitterness and pain in my heart.
As a girl, I think growing up without a mom is particularly hard, and I don't think it's something that a whole lot of people can really relate to. In high school, I was the only one of my friends who couldn't go prom dress shopping with their mom. I learned how to use a tampon from one of my friends at church camp. I'm not sure my hair was ever even brushed for the first full year without my mom. She wasn't there to help me move into my dorm room or help me shop for my new apartment. Girls need their mom -- that's just the truth, we live in a society that stresses this so strongly. There was never a day where I wasn't left feeling bitter and cheated by the fact that I didn't have what everyone else seemed to have. But what I have failed to understand all these years is that I do have a mom. A mom who knows how to change the oil in my car and also buys me Death by Chocolate ice cream when I get my heart broken. A mom who stays up late on a Friday night with my sister and I so we can spend quality time watching a new Redbox movie. A mom who taught me to fish and takes me to dinner after a long week of school and work. A mom who will actually hang out at the mall for hours while I look for a formal dress, provided we also shop around at Sears or Best Buy while we're there.
Dad, thank you for being the best mom I've ever had. Thank you for teaching me to love unconditionally. Thank you for showing me that no adversity can keep me from accomplishing my goals in life. There's no reason to be bitter and angry anymore. I used to focus on my mother's absence, but everything other people cherish about their mother, I already have in you. You are truly my best friend, my confidante, my shopping buddy, my shoulder to cry on, my biggest supporter, my role model, my rock, and so much more. Motherhood isn't all about getting manicures and going bra shopping. Sometimes, it's about selfless love and dedication. By that definition, I have a pretty awesome mom.
Happy Mother's Day, Dad.
