Episode 264: A Letter from A Mother

When you read this Warm Thoughts column, it will be just a couple of days before Mother's Day. Many families will be together on this special family day honoring their mother. Recently, I read an essay, a letter a mother wrote to her daughter. It touched my heart, and no doubt will be taped on a kitchen cabinet or refrigerator, and so I share it with my readers.

Dear daughter,

Although you are only four-years-old and will not understand what I am saying, I feel the need to write this letter and put it away for you to read many years from now. When you were an infant and the newness of being a mother wore off, I couldn't wait until you grew up. At first, I found myself wishing, "if only she would start walking," and then, "if only she would start talking." One day, I suddenly realized that you were out of diapers. You were indeed walking and talking, and pretty soon you would be going off to school. I remember the morning your father and I brought your baby sister home from the hospital. You and I had been apart six days. When the door opened, I saw you standing there with your angel smile. You seemed so big compared to the baby I was holding in my arms, it was hard to imagine you were once that small. I suddenly realized how much of your babyhood I have wished away. Being a mother is demanding. It robs you of so many freedoms, and I resented the fact that I had so many added responsibilities. And then I looked down at your soft curls and your trusting eyes suddenly, I felt ashamed. My heart almost broke. I cannot relive those first four years, but I have been trying to make them up to you and to myself. I hope and pray that when your first child is born, you will be wiser and more mature than I was. I hope you will enjoy every phase of your child's growing up and not wish they would hurry and pass so you could be free of the burdens of motherhood. You and I will have our share of heated words and angry battles in the years to come. There will be days when we will find it impossible to please each other. I will secretly wish that you would hurry and graduate from high school so I could send you off to college and be rid of you. Life rushes by all too quickly, my darling daughter, especially the lovely days and the beautiful times. Be smarter than your mother was. Don't let a single moment slip away unsavored or unappreciated, these days are priceless, and afford you the greatest opportunities for fulfillment. Never again will your heart be so full.

All my love,

Mother

Warm Thought: Cherish each moment with your children and your grandchildren. Happy Mother's Day!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea, written by Dr. Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record May 7th, 1998

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