I received a priceless gift from my daughter Kai of the sort a mother never expects to receive. I don't think it can be topped! If you're searching for the perfect present for your own mom, this is it.
A heartfelt letter of detailed thanks for all of the years. We moms will treasure it for life. Almost immediately, I had to put mine in a plastic sleeve to protect it from my happy tears! I'm having it framed.
Kai was what my parents' generation called "a handful." She wasn't one to follow advice or rules and usually chose to learn the hard way. For many years she cast me in the role of bad guy since I enforced many of the family rules. I tried to be consistent and to keep things even and calm, but there were many tense and emotional moments between us.
Now an adult who's a very good person with achievements under her belt, Kai gave me her letter shortly before she boarded a plane for a new life in a new state with her husband Paul.
"Despite the difficulties I had growing up, every time I was a pain in your butt and all the grey hair that I have given you over the years, you never gave up on me and loved me no matter what...I know how difficult I made it for you but you just brush if off and say that we were both learning," she wrote.
She mentions incidents that I thought she had probably forgotten along the way. Sad, touching, funny, joyful, generous, it's a wonderful letter. She concludes:
"Your endless and often thankless support throughout my life touches me more than I can express. I am so thankful that you are as strong as you are. I don't think anyone else could have given me the love, attention, and support that I needed to be the person I am today. I am proud to say that you're my mother. I love you more than I can ever express to you."
That's my daughter! And she wrote an equally precious letter to her father, who agrees with me: We've already had The Best Gift Ever.
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