.:Tuesday, March 3, 2009:.
Mom Made Me Cry
Dear Daughter I am turning the pages in my Mother' manual, checking to see if there is something else I should have taught you, showed you, bought you, prepared for you... when I realize I am practicing saying goodbye. Hard work. Commitment. Honor. Self-worth. I sit here excited for the people about to meet you, knowing they will see you smile, share your laughter, follow your lead. These same people have no idea what a marvelous young woman is about to walk into their midst and out of mine. But I give way to the feeling of loss, I will tarnish the brightness of your future. My job is to hold up the mirror so that you can see yourself. Trust me, I'm in here, trying to keep my seams from bursting with pride and caulking the spaces where my tears keep leaking out. Love Always, Mom P.S. I made up the Mother's Manual part...what I gave you came from my heart, not a book. Mom gave a framed picture with this letter written in it. She said she was going to save it until it was time for us to leave, but she gave it to me today instead. I really couldn't thank her properly at the time because I didn't want to break down crying like a baby! Leaving her will be the hardest thing about heading off onto our new adventure in Japan. I can't imagine not seeing her almost every day....and talking to her every day in between those visits. I'm so incredibly lucky to have such an amazingly wonderful mother. I've always said that if I could just be half the mother/woman that she is, then I'd be doing pretty damn good! I'm still working towards that. Thank you mom! I love it, but not nearly as much as I love you! |
