Happy Mother's Day!

To all the ladies in my family and my fellow Mommy friends -

Happy Mother's Day!

I have been blessed with a family of strong women who have helped shape me into the woman and mother that I am today. Through my Grandmothers Nana and Grammy, Aunts Claudia, Barbara and Karen, Sisters Angie and Kim, and my Mom (and honorary Grandmother Lorraine and Aunt Carol, plus more grandmothers, aunts, sisters and Mom by marriage), I have learned so much about strength, determination, resolve, nurturing, perseverance, the importance of family, and most importantly, LOVE. And I don't think I fully understood that until I became a Mother myself.

Additionally I have been navigating Motherhood with tremendous help from my fellow first-time Mommy friends, who have been wonderful mentors, guides and role models. They always have the best advice, ideas, suggestions and hand-me-downs, and I can only hope I make being a Mom as beautiful as they do.

January 2010

To my Mom in particular, I have loved that you've always been a kick-off-your-shoes and sit-on-the-floor Mom who isn't afraid to get dirty while playing with us growing up, or now with your grandkids. You have taught us to love so unconditionally and wholly, face obstacles with quiet strength and dignity, and always always put family first. I love that you taught us to always look for the "blue sky" in difficult situations, dragged us to cultural events and family gatherings saying "you're going to go and you're going to have a good time" and often asked us "what's the worst that can happen?" when faced with a task we were timid to do. All of that had made us better, well-rounded people. I love that you were always a parent first and a friend second, and now I appreciate that we are more friends than mother-daughter.

I hope I can serve Adam as well as you've served us. I hope he will know that I will love him no matter what. I hope that some day he will see me less as a Mom and more as a confidant. I hope that he and I can have as fulfilling and intimate and fun relationship that you share with your daughters now.

On Mother's Day I hope the women in my and Michael's family and my dear friends know how appreciative I am of each and every one of them. May you have a Mother's Day fitting of how special you are. Love you all.