One of the main reasons my series, Letters For You exists is because of the gentle encouragement from my dear friend and fellow writer, Nichole.
I first fell in love with Nichole through her words at In These Small Moments and then had the incredible fortunate to meet her last August at BlogHer. Since then, our children have met and she and I have shared many heartfelt phone calls, tweets and text messages.
In many ways, Nichole and I are kindred spirits. We have suffered great loss and extreme joy and write about both.
I am so very proud to have Nichole here today and even more grateful for her friendship.
Dear Mom,
There are some nights when Craig and I come downstairs after putting the kids to bed and we’re so exhausted we just fall in a heap on the couch.
Parenting is difficult enough even when you have another person to lean on.
But, when I was a little girl, you didn’t have that support system.
You did it alone and you did an amazing job.
There are so many things for which I am grateful to you, but there never seems to be the right time to tell you.
So, I’ll share just a small handful of them with you now.
Thank you for always being honest with me…for telling me the truth about my dad’s death and trusting that with your help, I could work through it.
I am the woman I am today because of your encouragement to think through what I was feeling and to speak my mind with conviction. Thank you for never asking me to stop talking.
Thank you for sometimes splurging on toys. I now realize that you probably used your last dollars so that I could experience the joy of an occasional new toy. My Holly Hobbie, Colorforms, and Baby Alive are etched into my memory forever.
Thank you for never making a promise to me that you couldn’t keep and for always keeping the ones you did. You taught me that your word was gold.
Thank you for always being there to tuck me in at night….for scratching my back and talking to me at the end of the day. Those moments reminded me that you would always be there.
Some of the little things that you probably don’t think I even remember influence me as a mother. Thank you for always making cakes for school parties, playing Scrabble with me, and having slumber parties with me on the pull out sofa.
I always knew that as long as we had each other, we would be just fine. Through simple gestures like reaching for my hand to cross the street until I was a teenager, to comforting me when I had my heart broken for the first time, you taught me that together we could get through anything.
Thank you for showing me what it meant to be a mother. For teaching me through your own example what sacrifice, commitment, and determination look like.
Thank you for letting me spread my wings and leave when it was time. I hope to have that same courage when my own children grow up and move away. I hope that I can draw from the strength that you showed me then.
The childhood that you gave me was also a gift to Katie and Matthew. The lessons that I learned from you permeate their lives and I could never thank you enough for that.
I love you big as the world,
High as the sky,
Deep as the ocean,
Forever and ever,
Chole
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Oh, two of my absolute favorite ladies in one place? Awesome! Nichole, this is so lovely, and so wonderful to hear how you view your mother’s life through your own now.
Much love to you both. I am blessed to call you both friend.
Thank you, Sherri. xoxo
You are such a lovely friend.
Now I see where you got your wonderful, kind spirit, Nichole. What a wonderful mother you have.
Thank you, Alison. She is a remarkable woman. 🙂
Beautiful letter, Nichole. I can see that your mother taught you so much that you live by today.
Thank you, Kimberly. xo
It’s amazing how much our parents influence who WE are as parents.
Oh Nic, oh wow. Your letter is so perfect and one I am sure your mom will cherish forever, just like she cherishes you.
Mothers are such an integral part of our lives as daughters, we want to emulate them, but “not too much” and then we realize the love, the sacrifice, the core of ourselves that they have added to our lives when we hold our own children.
This letter is the best way to tell your mom that you “see her” and you love the view from this side.
Gorgeous!
Thank you, Kir.
Why is it that oftentimes, the people who deserve the most thanks are the ones who don’t receive it nearly enough?
xoxo
What a wonderful tribute to your mom! She is a truly amazing lady.
Thank you, sweet friend!
She truly is. 🙂
Such a sweet letter. I love how the little moments we have from our own childhood etch the ways we parent our own babies.
Thank you, Natalie.
I wouldn’t be half the mom I am today if it weren’t for my own mother. And I hope that one day Katie looks back and feels the same way. 🙂
What a sweet tribute to her. Beautifully written!
Thank you, Tayarra…you are so lovely. xoxo
Oh Nicole, you always have the perfect words. You’re sharing this with your mother, yes? And someday with your daughter?
Krista…thank you so much.
Yes, I will share it with both. I hope that they both realize just how important her actions were.
xoxo
Beautiful. Although I’m sure she already knows how you feel, a letter like this is an amazing gift.
Thank you, Katie.
So very much. xo
What a beautiful letter to your mom, Nichole. Sometimes it’s easier to get these words out in writing instead of speaking them.
My mom lives on the opposite coast, so it seems like when we talk, we’re so busy talking about what’s happening in our lives that I often hang up without telling her how important she is to me.
I hope she knows.
Thank you, Jessica.
I love the way you remember your childhood, and as always–your gratitude is humbling.
Cam? I hope that one day Felix writes you a letter listing off all of the wonderful things that you do for him.
Because you are a wonderful mother. xoxo
So incredibly beautiful. xoxo
Thank you so much, Tracy. xoxo
This is so beautifully written. You might think you don’t thank her, but I am sure when she looks at your children she sees the mother you are, and she knows what she’s taught you to cherish.
Oh, Angela…thank you for that. Your words touch my heart. xoxo
Oh, Nichole I can only imagine what these words mean to your mom! Each thought is so beautifully expressed! I think all of us hope to one day have our children see us in the same kind of light you see your mother. Thank you so very much for sharing! xoxo
You are so very lucky to have a wonderful woman as your mother in your life.
she sounds amazing.
What a beautiful letter, Nichole!
(I hope to share this kind of love, respect, and wealth of memories with my own daughters one day.)