To My Bonus Mom,

You may not have carried me in your belly for 9 months. You may not have seen my first tooth, or heard my first word, or planned my childhood birthday parties. You didn't help me take my first steps, or walk me to my first day of school, or read to me at bedtime.

But, despite the things I achieved without you by my side, you're watching me accomplish more and more every single day I am with you. You've watched me accomplish more and more ever since I met you, and you're going to continue to watch more and more as I grow. We've been blessed with an opportunity not many others have- we were able to build a relationship at a point in my life when most other girls would be constantly hot and cold with their mom. We got to start from scratch, and create a connection the way we wanted to, which turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in my life.

You are not an "alternative" or a "stand in" or a "replacement". You are your own and you have your own (very large) place in my heart. Do not feel like you are doing someone else's job, do not feel like you are in someone else's territory. You are coparenting, and you are doing a more than exceptional job. It takes a very special person to assist raising a child that, scientifically, is not their own- and you fit the role perfectly.

Now, I have such a beautiful, caring, loving, amazing, best-friend-bonus-mom. While you may not be my mother, you'll always be a mom to me. We don't need a biological connection when we have such a special connection at heart. Thank you for entering my life and continually supporting me as I know you will for the rest of my life, I love you bonus mom.

Love,

Your Bonus Daughter XO