Hey there, my little rascals! Parenting can feel like a wild rollercoaster ride, can’t it? Some days, I’m so worn out that I can’t even string together a decent sentence. I’m too exhausted to engage in playtime, and my patience runs thinner than a piece of paper. Honestly, if one more person asks for something, I might just shatter like a fragile vase.
Most of my days seem to revolve around giving directions: “Finish your breakfast!” “Pick up your socks!” “Be nice to your brother!” “Stop throwing toilet paper in the sink!” “Your sleeve isn’t a tissue! And for crying out loud, please aim for the toilet!” By the end of the day, I often wonder if I’m giving you both a good childhood. Are there enough joyful moments in the mix? How will you remember me? Will I just be the person who fed you, bossed you about, and wiped your noses—or will you see me as the one who spread happiness, shared fun ideas, and radiated kindness?
I know you’ll remember a little bit of everything. That’s how I recall my own childhood and my parents. There were certainly moments of chaos, tears, and worries. But there were also those sparkling instances of joy that shine bright in my memory, and I hope to create more of those for you.
I want you to see me as your mom, but also as a real woman—flawed and imperfect, yet overflowing with love and warmth. I know we have plenty of time ahead of us before your childhoods become distant memories, and I hope to be a constant presence in your lives. As I reflect on our time together, there are a few simple things I hope you’ll hold onto.
So, to my dear kiddos, here’s what I wish for you to remember about me:
- I want you to recall the nights when I grumbled about being too tired for anything fun, only for us to throw on our coats over our pajamas and stroll to the deli for M&M’s, enjoying the magic of that spontaneous adventure.
- I want you to remember how I cradled you in my arms when you were sick, rocking you gently and singing “This Little Light of Mine” off-key until you drifted off to sleep against my heart.
- I hope you’ll remember that no matter how scary the nightmares were, my room was always open for you, and I’d hold your hand until you fell back asleep.
- Sure, I’ll admit that I raised my voice over the smallest things sometimes, but I want you to remember that I always apologized if my yelling got out of hand.
- I hope you’ll cherish the evenings when we had breakfast for dinner or gorged on ice cream and French fries. Those fun nights were never failures in my eyes—they were just our special moments together.
- I want you to think of me as the mom who paused to admire the moon and got excited over a stunning sunset.
- Remember my soft belly, the little wrinkles on my forehead, my messy hair, and that cozy, worn sweatshirt—everything that screamed “MOM” in the most natural way.
- I want you to see me as an ordinary yet brave woman, someone who spoke her truth to you and to others.
Above all, I want you to know that everything I did was out of love—even the things I might not have done perfectly. I tried my absolute best, and all I ever wanted was for you to feel cherished and safe.
I understand that I can’t dictate the memories you’ll create. Your childhoods are yours to shape, and I have less control than I sometimes think. But here’s to hoping that amidst the chaos of our daily lives, I’m giving you opportunities for genuine happiness. I hope you’ll remember my imperfections as just me being real, showing up, and loving you to the moon and back.
For more thoughts on parenting and life, check out this insightful post on home insemination. If you’re exploring ways to enhance your fertility, I recommend looking into this resource from Make A Mom for helpful supplements. Also, for an authoritative guide on pregnancy, the CDC is a great place to start.
Summary
This heartfelt letter expresses a mother’s hopes for her children’s memories of her, emphasizing the importance of love, authenticity, and cherished experiences in their lives. She reflects on the balance of parenting challenges and joyful moments, aiming to create a lasting impression of warmth and connection.