Dear Nicole,

I found this recently in an old book of mine. My mom printed it and gave it to me when I was a teenager. I’ll do the same for you soon and hopefully you’ll save it and happen upon it later in life after you’ve had children.

“Some day when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I will tell them:

• I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom and what time you would be home.
• I loved you enough to insist that you save your money and buy a bike for yourself even though we could afford to buy one for you.
• I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
• I loved you enough to make you take a Milky Way back to the drug store (with a bit out of it) and tell the clerk, “I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it.”
• I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.
• I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren’t perfect.
• I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I’m glad I won them, because in the end you won something too.”

-Author Unknown.

With all the love in my heart,

Mom