Dear Mum,
As the person who taught me to say please and thank you, I rarely said them enough to you so I’m writing this to tell you how thankful I am for all of the big and little things you have done for me throughout the years. You’ve done a lot, just like every other mother, but most importantly you’ve put up with me. You never gave up on me from my terrible two’s to my even more terrible teens, and for that you deserve a medal. I can’t thank you for everything because that list would never end, but I can thank you for the big things, and that’s just what I’m going to do.Thank you for not being afraid to bite back, literally. I know that I wasn’t always the best-behaved and thank you for teaching me how to be better. Although I may not have appreciated you biting back as a two year old, I certainly deserved it for my go at the back of your knee. And I can say, proudly, I haven’t bitten anyone since.
Thank you for our daily phone calls. Since leaving for college, we’ve spoken every day. You know about my friends, my classes, my crushes, and more. Whether it’s good or bad, I’ve always known that you’ll be there to talk to me, just a room or phone call away. Thank you for reading every single thing I’ve ever written. From the story of Ugaboo from the planet of Ug to essays on gender roles in Shakespeare’s sonnets, you’ve read them all. You might have claimed to not be of much help with my essays now, but to me it’s your nod of approval that has always meant the world. Thank you for encouraging me to follow all of my dreams. You’ve always been my number one fan whether it be sitting in the stands during a basketball game, standing by the fence at a horseshow, cheering in the crowd during a play, and so much more. Every step of the way, you’ve encouraged me to try new things and follow my heart. Thank you for never losing your accent. I am so proud to be able to say I have a British mother who came to America for love. I take pride in sharing that accent through the words and pronunciation I’ve learned through growing up with you. No matter where I am, I carry a bit of you with me in the way I speak. And with your accent, I must thank you for showing me other cultures. You’ve never made it an option for me to be anything other than a global citizen. Thank you for always pulling me back up. Whether it was a bad day or a broken leg or a chronic migraine diagnosis, you always knew just how to make me feel better. From Disney movies and forts to - who am I kidding - more Disney movies, you’ve always been there for me when I needed you. Thank you for giving me the best nineteen years anyone could ask for. While some might point out their flaws - and, yes, there are quite a few - to me, they were perfect because I had you. I want to thank you for simply being there for those nineteen years. You taught me how to be, how to love, and so much more. You were my best friend. I know you’ll never get this and now there’s a whole year you’ve missed, but somehow that doesn’t matter. I need to thank you because you’re worth more than you got. You should have grown old enough to watch your daughter graduate from college, to hug her at her wedding, to meet your grandchildren, and so much more. You should have had a life of happiness and love with Dad. You should have had everything for all you gave me. I know that life is full of “should haves” and is not always fair, but that doesn’t mean I can’t thank you for those nineteen, life changing, perfect, love filled years.Love and Miss You Forever,
Your Daughter
