{Heather} To My Mom On Mother’s Day

We are so excited to be partnering with The Vintage Pearl for the Mother’s Day sponsored series. In the next few days, we will be bringing you letters written by our contributors that they wrote to their mothers or to their daughters. Follow along as they share their heart. Also, enter The Vintage Pearl giveaway we have currently going on! Winner will be announced on Mother’s Day!

VPSponsoredSeries

I have known you for 26 years. I’ve known your name, your hobbies, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses. I’ve known what buttons to push to make you lose your patience, and I’ve known what words lift you up and break you down.

But, until now, I’ve never truly known you.

0425151245Because until now, I’ve never been in your shoes. I’m about to have a child of my own, and during this exciting and terrifying time, I’ve learned what it takes to be a mom. And I’ve learned that I was blessed with the best of them.

You were young and beautiful. You were full of dreams and ambition. You and my dad were still newlyweds with a bright view of the future. As a child, it’s difficult to see your parents as young people with their own hopes and feelings. Now, I am that young parent. It makes me wonder – how did you do this at my age?

I know I wasn’t the perfect child.

I’ve heard countless stories of the fits I threw or how everyone within a three-mile radius knew my name because you and Dad were constantly screaming it out in frustration. I’ve seen the book on your shelf about raising a difficult child. And, I have plenty of relatives who like to relive the tantrums of my toddler days as if they weren’t more than two decades ago.

I see now that you were there through it all.

You were strong when I rebelled against your every wish, even when disciplining me was difficult for you. You were brave when my reckless youth resulted in broken bones and surgeries. You were caring when I cried about my latest heartbreak and forgiving when I was the cause of the pain. You were supportive when I left home and you were always available when I needed someone to talk to, share my mistakes with, or ask for advice. During times of struggle, I was oblivious to them because you remained positive. Even if money was tight, I never felt as though we lacked for anything because you found ways to make me enjoy what we had.

Where I walked, your footprints followed. They were always there, but I didn’t always see them.

Now, I’m preparing for the birth of my son and how his entrance into this world will change mine. When he comes home with a broken arm or a fever, I’m afraid I won’t be as brave as you were. I’m afraid I won’t be as strong as you were when he tells me I’m a horrible mother, even when I’m not. I’m afraid I won’t be as supportive, caring, thoughtful, patient, loving, inspirational, creative, talented, and selfless as you were.

Still, I know I learned from the best. And that brings me comfort.

I always knew you as my mother, my mom, the person who put food on the table and showed up to my piano recitals.

Now, I know you in a completely different way. You’re the woman who sacrificed herself time and time again for my betterment. You’re the woman who stayed up all night to tend to my cries, traded her free time to spend it with me, cried in the darkness of her bedroom so I wouldn’t see, and prayed for me with her every breath.

I’m about to be that woman for my baby, and I can do it thanks to you. Mom, I’m so glad you were the role model I needed. And I’m proud to finally know you, even if it took far too many Mother’s Days to figure it out.

[box]This is part of our Strands of Love: A Mother’s Day Letter Series. Read more posts in this series…[/box]

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The Vintage Pearl
The Vintage Pearl creates meaningful, personalized hand-stamped jewelry and keepsakes that are customized with names, initials, dates, or words of inspiration, perfect for moms. Visit us at our Edmond location at Spring Creek Village on the NW corner of 15th and Bryant.  Follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

 

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Heather Koontz
Heather is a transplant from Tulsa, OK, who enjoys falling in love with Oklahoma City and all it has to offer. A communications and public relations specialist, Heather is a graduate of the University of Tulsa with degrees in film studies and creative writing. She loves to write, capture her day with photographs and videos, and spend time with her husband Byron and their two rambunctious dogs. They have a brand new baby boy and are navigating the unique world of first-time parenthood. Huge fans of the Oklahoma City Thunder, their favorite thing to do is attend Thunder games.

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