Thank You

Dear Mom,

You used to say, "One of these days, you will thank me."

I'm sorry I made you wait 30 years.

I get it now.

Thank You.

For reading books to me twenty times in a row. For driving by Jamie Tookshur's house every day on the way home when I had a crush on him in first grade. For yelling at the teacher that time she wouldn't let me go to the bathroom and I wet my pants. For letting us keep Sunshine because Alan Head's mom was going to flush him down the toilet. For letting me run away to Grandma's when I was 9. For not letting me watch stuff that would rot my brain. For letting me read everything I could get my hands on. For sending me upstairs to wash that crap off my face. For sending me back upstairs to put on something decent. For fixing my hair that time I tried to bleach it by myself after you said I was not meant to be blonde. For letting me pierce my ears three times. For telling me over and over how smart I was. For believing me that time you left me home alone for the weekend that I didn't mean to have a party, and it wasn't my underwear you found in your bed. For buying me a stereo that year you said there wouldn't be much for Christmas. For not trying to stop me when I left home. For not saying I told you so when he left me for another woman. For saving my wedding day when I found someone worth ten of him. For crying the first time you laid eyes on my newborn son. For not crying when I told you I lost the baby. For loving my husband and my kids.

And so much more I can't even put into words.


Love,

Me