Dear Mom,
You had always wanted to be a mother. It took you 10 years, dozens of attempts, treatments, and prayers. I can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been at times for you and dad, how often you felt like giving up. But you didn’t. And 24 years ago, you finally got what you called, “the best miracles of your life:” Your two twins Ryan and Marissa.
Today, I want to take a moment and thank you. To thank you for everything you were to me, and for everything you continue to be to me. One of the hardest things about losing a parent or any loved one is thinking about all the years you could’ve had with them; the memories, the milestones, the celebrations. It’s easy to slip into anger and regret over thinking about what you’ve lost. But a wise friend of yours once told a teenage Marissa that as much as she’ll miss the 30+ years she could’ve had with you, nothing will ever take away the 17 years of love, laughter, and joy that she shared with her mom.
You are my hero and my role model. You taught me everything I know and instilled the values that’ve shaped me into the person I am today. I learned compassion from you, the meaning of empathy, and the value of always asking someone what their name is. You showed me that it was important to be ambitious, to work hard for the things you want, and to always stand up for what you believe in. I so deeply admired the way you could light up a room and the profound effect you had on people. As I get older and learn more about who you were beyond a mother, I am humbled by the struggles you persevered through and the many times you rebuilt yourself after pain and trauma. That resilience is something I keep very close to my heart, and it has carried me through even the darkest of times and out into a stronger place.
I would not trade another lifetime for the years that we got to be together. There will never be another person that I respect more than you. You have brought so many incredible people into my life and I won’t ever be able to thank you enough for that. I am so proud to be your daughter, and one day I hope to be even half as good of a mother that you were to me.
Happy Mother’s Day ❤️ Always
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