Dear Mom

November 09, 2010

Dear Mom,

If you were to ask other people, my guess is most of those people would say their mom is the best. Everyone would have a lot of reasons to back up their claim and they’d all be valid reasons. I won’t argue with those people, but I know they’re wrong. They’re wrong because I know that you’re the best mom anyone could have and I know that because I’m sitting here writing this note to you right now.

It’s difficult to write something like this without resorting to a bunch of Hallmark-type clichés and I think using “best mom” is about as far as I can go. And I’m also not one for flowery prose. But I’m the person I am today because of you. You helped shape my values and my morals and you taught me right from wrong. You showed me what’s truly important in life and you helped me realize that what’s truly important isn’t always something big or something that happens to be sitting right in front of my nose. You helped me see the value in every person – no ‘buts’ – and you taught me how to be unselfish and how to be kind. You taught me the meaning of empathy, not by definition, but by example. You exposed me to things I never would have discovered otherwise, and those things have all made me a deeper, richer and better person, as well as a better human being. And not least of all, you stood by me, without judgment, despite all the mistakes I’ve made, and you never made me feel bad about myself.

I know what you’re thinking, but I do listen and I’ve always listened. I just can’t tell you that I’ve been listening (even now!) because after all these years I can’t start making your job too easy!

Happy Givingbirth Day and thank you for “borning” me.

I love you,
Michael