A LETTER TO MY MOTHER

Dear Mom,

I don’t even know where to begin because no words can truly capture the depth of my gratitude for you. Every time I sit down to think about all you have done for us, my heart overflows with emotions that are impossible to put into words. But today, I want to try—I want to let you know, in the best way I can, just how much you mean to me and how deeply I appreciate you.

From the moment Dad passed away, our lives changed in ways we never expected. The weight of grief was unbearable, the pain so raw and unrelenting. I know you were hurting just as much as we were—if not more—but you never let that stop you from being our rock. Instead of letting the darkness consume you, you stood tall, wiped away your tears, and held us close. You became not just our mother, but our father, our guide, our source of comfort, and our greatest friend.

You took on responsibilities that were never meant to be yours alone. You filled the void that Dad left behind with so much love, strength, and sacrifice. You never once complained, even when I know it must have been unbearably hard for you. You carried the weight of our family on your shoulders, all while dealing with your own grief. I cannot even imagine how exhausting it must have been—how many nights you cried in silence, how many times you wanted to break down but chose to stay strong for us instead.

Mom, you have been my safe place, my anchor in the storm. Through every challenge, every hardship, you have been there, holding my hand, reminding me that we are in this together. There were moments when I felt lost, when life seemed unfair, when I didn’t know how to move forward—but you always found the right words, the right embrace, the right way to remind me that everything would be okay.

I have watched you make sacrifices that no one should ever have to make. I have seen you put your own needs aside time and time again just to make sure we were okay. You worked tirelessly to provide for us, to keep a roof over our heads, to ensure that we never felt the absence of a father figure too deeply. You played both roles so effortlessly, even when I know it was far from easy.

Your love has been the one constant in my life, the one thing that has never wavered. No matter how difficult things got, no matter how much life tried to break us, your love held us together. It is because of you that I have learned what true strength looks like—not the kind that is loud and boastful, but the quiet, unwavering strength that exists in the small, everyday moments.

I appreciate you for being my friend when I needed one the most. For all the times you listened to me talk about my fears, my dreams, my worries—without judgment, without hesitation, just with pure love and understanding. You never made me feel like a burden, never made me feel like my problems were too small. You simply listened, offered your wisdom, and reminded me that I was never alone.

You have been my greatest cheerleader, celebrating my victories—big and small—like they were your own. You have believed in me even when I struggled to believe in myself. Your faith in me has been the driving force behind so many of my accomplishments. You have taught me the value of perseverance, of kindness, of resilience.

But most of all, you have taught me what it means to love unconditionally. Your love is the kind that asks for nothing in return, the kind that gives and gives without ever expecting to receive. It is a love that has shaped me into the person I am today, a love that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Mom, I know I don’t say it enough, but thank you. Thank you for everything you have done, for everything you continue to do. Thank you for loving me when I wasn’t easy to love, for standing by me when I felt unworthy, for reminding me of my strength when I doubted myself. Thank you for every sacrifice, every sleepless night, every silent prayer you have whispered for me.

You are more than just my mother. You are my best friend, my greatest role model, my guardian angel in human form. If I am even half the person you are one day, I will consider that my greatest achievement.

I love you more than words can ever express, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make sure you know that.

With all my love and deepest gratitude,