Dear Mom,

It was not until I was older that I realized just how lucky I am to have you as a mother.  Not all mothers are created equal.  I want you to know that.  I want you to know that you did a superub job in raising us kids, even though we didn’t always make it easy.  You have always been there for us.  You picked us up when we stumbled, you held our hands and guided us on this journey of life and you raised us to think for ourselves and to be independent.

Over the years I have come to see that there are so many mothers out there that do not mother their children.  So many that are not there for their children when their children desperately need them.  There are so many who do not give their love freely, expecting nothing in return.  I have watched children in pain who want nothing but their mothers to reach out to them and say “I am here, let me help you.” . . . but their mothers never do.  I have heard from friends how their mother left them on the side of the road while pregnant because they had an argument in the car and I am angry and heartbroken for them.

I don’t understand how mothers can do those things to their children and I am glad you do not fall into any of those categories.  I realize I was blessed with you as my mother.  I am glad you were such a good example for us. I am thankful that you loved us unconditionally.  I am glad you let us make mistakes and learn from them, while watching in the background ready to take our hand and lead us back to the right path if we strayed to far.  And I hope that one day my child will be able to say the same thing to me because of what I have learned from you.

Thank you.  I love you.

-L