Dear Mom,
This past weekend was Mother’s Day. Amidst the gifts and the cards and the flowers and the fancy dinners, I’ve been taking some time to reflect on what you mean to me. There is so much to say that I don’t even know where to begin.
You have been so many things for me over the years—my nanny, my nurse, my teacher, my mentor, my role model—and yet through all of that juggling of responsibilities, you have always remained my mother. The bond I have with you is so special, because you were present in so many different parts of my life. You were there to fix my breakfast in the mornings, there to answer my questions about math and English and science and history, there to take me on adventures to the library and the park, there to make me eat my vegetables at dinner, there to tuck me into bed at night with a Bible story and a prayer. Through all my laughter, you were there smiling with me. Through all my tears, you were there to hold me close.
As I grow older, I’m coming to realize more and more what incredible self-sacrifice and dedication it took for you to stay at home with me, raise me, and homeschool me. When I was born, you had a promising career in front of you, and yet you chose to make me your first priority. You gave up your job—the money and the social life and the chance to make a name for yourself out in the big wide world—and you replaced it all with the unsung life of a stay-at-home mom. Thank you for making that hard choice.
I have so many things to say “thank you” for. Thank you for teaching me to read and unlocking the joy of one of my lifelong passions. Thank you for the ballet lessons and the piano lessons, for the spelling bees and the science fairs—for so many things that you didn’t have to give me, but you did because you wanted me to try new things and gain new experiences. Thank you for the random assortment of creatures that you let me keep as pets—frogs and crawdads and snails in a jar. Thank you for letting me help you bake cookies and plant flowers, even though I usually just made a mess and caused more work for you. Thank you for giving me the space to learn and grow and explore at my own pace. Thank you for always encouraging me to be the best that I can be, and for never placing limitations on my dreams.
Looking back over the twenty years of my life, I cannot even begin to imagine what it would look like if you hadn’t raised me and nurtured me and taught me every step of the way. You have made me into the person I am today. Without you, I would be so much less than who I am. You have poured yourself into me day after day, year after year, and I am so incredibly thankful for that. Thank you for being who you are and for shaping me into who I am. You are my hero.
I love you—today and always.
