My mom and I being goofy, because that’s what we do best together.

As funeral professionals, you see people lose their mothers every day. And more often than not, there’s always something that was left unsaid between a mother and their child. Maybe they never got to tell their mom how much they love her, or how much they appreciate what she’s done for them, or heck, maybe they haven’t even talked to their mom in years… and then she’s gone.  

As a blogger in funeral service, I realize this, and I don’t want to wait to it’s too late to tell my mom the things I never got to tell her.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I want to take this opportunity to write an open letter to my mother for the world to see.  I want to tell her about the things I never took the time to thank her about. You know, the little things we overlook until before we know it, we realize we never got to share them with our moms. So here it goes…

Dear mom,

There’s a lot of little moments, little favors, and big acts of kindness that I’ve overlooked for the past 25 years. I know I was too ignorant to thank you for them then, but I want to take the opportunity to thank you for them now. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are 5 things I want to take the time to thank you for that I never did before:

1. For choosing  me.

25 years ago, when you were dating my dead-beat father, you were given a choice: stay with him and get an abortion, or keep me. Even though you were only 24 years old, going to school full time, working a full time job, and knew you’d have to face this alone, you chose me. The amount of bravery it took for you to make that decision, then raise me on your own… is admirable. I’m sorry I don’t tell you it enough, but thanks for choosing me, Mom.

2. For holding our family together.

Two years ago when we had a house fire in the middle of the night, we were all terrified, crying and frantically finding our way outside of the house. After we grabbed our most valuable possessions, you’re the one who realized we forgot our family bird, Kiwi. Despite the fact that you couldn’t see and it was dangerous to go back into our house, you ran back in to grab that damn 7-foot-tall bird cage. You didn’t care what it took to keep our family together… you just did it. And it didn’t matter how scary it was, you still did it. Thanks for keeping us all together, even when it meant risking your life. 

3. For always listening.

It doesn’t matter if it’s 4am and I call you to tell you that my boyfriend dumped me for the 15th time, or that I had a terrible dream, or that I looked at the scale and realized I gained four pounds, you’re always there to listen. I can even tell you the same story over and over again, and you’ll still nod your head and act like it’s the most interesting story you’ve ever heard. It takes a certain kind of love to have the patience to listen to someone babble to you for 25 years straight, and I’m so lucky that you have that kind of love for me.

4. For giving anything to make me happy.

Remember the time you were staying three hours away, and I called you in the middle of the night crying, and you drove all the way home just to make sure I was OK? Or, the time we didn’t have much money, so you stayed home and sent me and my little brother to a steakhouse so I could have the birthday dinner you thought I deserved? I want you to know that I remember all of the ways you’ve gone above and beyond to make me happy over the years – no matter how big or small they were – and how grateful I am that you did them for me.

5. For being beautiful.

As I’ve grown older, you’ve been able to watch me bloom into the young woman I am today. But what you don’t know is I watch you too, Mom. Every birthday that you celebrate, you’ll joke and tell everyone “it’s my 29th birthday… for the twentieth time!” but behind closed doors, I watch you struggle with the changes age brings when you look into the mirror. When people tell you you’re beautiful, you don’t believe them. But I want you to know that for the past 25 years, I’ve watched you bloom into a sophisticated, beautiful woman who will always be 29-years-old in my eyes. You’re just as beautiful as the day I looked into your eyes when you gave birth to me, and I don’t want you to forget that.

I know I don’t tell you this enough… But I love you. I know we’ve had more downs than ups over the years, and it hasn’t been easy. But the challenges, triumphs and struggles we’ve faced together have pieced together into a wonderful little puzzle that we can call our own little special mother-daughter love.

My mom and I circa crazy 90’s hair days.

Now it’s your turn…

Whether your mom is down the street, across the country, or in heaven, I want you to thank your mom for something you never got to thank her for before.  Why? Because todays’ the only day we have guaranteed, and if you never live to see another day, I’m sure you want your mom to know how much you appreciate and love her. It is mother’s day, after all, and the message you have for her will touch her more than any box of chocolates, vase of flowers, or fancy dinner ever could.

What’s one thing you never thanked your mom for? Tell us in the comments below!

Krystal Penrose

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