Hi Mom.

There's something I've been carrying around for a while now, and I just needed to say it out loud.

Thank you.

Not the quick thank you at the end of a phone call. Not the one on a card you open and set on the counter.

A real one. The kind I should have said more.

The kind you deserved to hear a long time ago.

I remember the way you showed up. Not just for the big moments. But the Tuesday nights.

The ordinary ones. The ones nobody remembers but somehow shape everything.

You were there for those too.

I remember when I was going through something hard — and you didn't push.

You just stayed close. You let me know without saying it that whenever I was ready, you'd be there.

That's not a small thing. That's everything.

I get busy, I get in my head, I let weeks go by.

And then I'll hear your voice and something in me just settles.

Like some part of me goes... okay, she's there. Everything's okay.

I don't think you know how much that means to me.

You gave me wings and then you watched me use them. Even when it took me far from you.

Even when I didn't look back enough. You just kept cheering from wherever you were standing.

I am so proud to be your son.

I love you.

Happy Mother's Day Mom.