427 Words
Comments welcome
Note: When I was a kid, at the suggestion of
a grief therapist, I wrote this letter to my Mom
on Mother's Day.
Dear Mom,
I miss you soooo much. When you died my heart crumbled and I got tied up in a tight ball and I couldn't take in even a little breath of air. My insides filled up with sadness and I cried so many tears I could have drown in them. But little by little the crumble got less because of remembering all the good stuff about you. It's like the hurt started to shrink up just like that time I put the pretty red turtleneck sweater you knitted for me in the washer and dryer and it got shrunk up so small it looked like it could fit a for real turtle. Ha ha.
Now there’s so many things that make me think about you with happy thoughts just like last night when I opened the deck door to go and feed the critters and I got a big nose full of some nice smelling bush. I don’t know what that bush was but it made think of you because of how much you loved flowers and had such a pretty flower garden. It gave me a smile and a nice memory. That kind of stuff happens lots of times because now I let it in and before I couldn’t because of so much hurt being in the way. I think you’ll be happy the hurt is shrinking because you wouldn’t want me to be so sad for the rest of my life. I talk to you lots and I know you hear me and I hear you in my heart even if you can’t say stuff out loud. Some day I’m gonna be with you and I’m happy for that. But right now because I’m right here still on earth I’m gonna keep on being just me and do all the good stuff you taught me how to do. Oh and it’s gonna make you happy to know I don’t ever forget to brush my teeth at night and I always say my prayers and talk to God before I go to sleep. You can be proud of me and my brothers and my sister because were taking real good care of each other just like you taught us and just like you would want us to do. I love you more than a zillion of your apple pies and that’s a lot because you know how much I loved those yummy pies. For sure you’ll always be alive in my heart.
Happy Mother's Day in heaven Mom!
I love you.
Your son,
Lenny
Oh, Lenny - this is wonderful. Your grief therapist was brilliant. This letter touched me in all the best ways. *hugs*
ReplyDeleteHi Lenny - this is superb... I knew you'd come up trumps ... too often you've mentioned your Mama to me - and I know you miss her so much ... you've done yourself and her proud ... a great deal of pride. You've had some good advice from blogger friends and your brother ... very wise thoughts - and your mother did you all proud, and shows her value to you - she would be so pleased to read this.
ReplyDeleteThank you - just lovely to know you've entered one of these WEP prompts ... congratulations - cheers and sent with hugs ... GrandBlogMom ... xoxo
Awww. this is lovely. Moving and positive, despite the pain. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, wonderful story! Very moving.
ReplyDeletePoignant and uplifting at the same time. I think your grief therapist is/was very wise. Thank you for sharing this entry with us.
ReplyDeleteOh Lenny, so poignant, yet happy thoughts. It moved me to see you working through your grief at losing your mom. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us.
ReplyDeleteI loved this Lenny, full of innocence and love. Thank you for this untouched letter.
ReplyDeleteLenny, my heart goes out to you, losing your mom at such a young age. Your letter struck all the right notes, from poignant to positive.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a heart-warming post :) I love how you took us on a beautiful emotional journey!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing something so beautiful and personal with us. Sometimes writing can help us with our grief and to express thoughts that are difficult to say aloud.
ReplyDeleteA heartfelt letter to his mom. Or, is it your mom? Well done.
ReplyDeleteNancy
I love this. It's so authentic.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful letter!
Carrie AnnJune 17, 2022 at 8:49 AM
ReplyDeleteOh, this letter brought tears to my eyes! Beautifully written!
A beautiful and bittersweet remembrance, but mostly sweet.
ReplyDeleteStephen King's hero Roland Deschain opines on one occasion that the most horrible fact of human existence was that broken hearts mended. I suppose they have to, so we can go on with whatever we were put here for.
Oh Lenny. This letter has brought tears to my eyes. I lost my mother when I was 19. Your words landed in those spaces of my heart where hurt used to live once upon a time.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this letter.
So touching, Lenny. It was such a true message from the heart that I felt it deeply.
ReplyDeleteSo sincere and beautiful. Thanks for sharing this lovely letter. So sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteVery moving. You did well.
ReplyDeleteIt's good that there was love and support to get you through such a time. I hope many others have or will have such help as well. It was brave of you to share this.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a humorous piece for the June WEP prompt (it isn't adult, though some may mistake it as such at first, depending on your hobbies).
And I'm contemplating my favorite book worlds for the IWSG July prompt (I'm co-hosting). Any thoughts?
Over at Operation Awesome, we're gearing up for our Pass or Pages query contest with July's family saga genre. Know any writers who might want to enter?
Huge Congratulations on your WEP win Lenny. I loved your entry, which tugged at my heart.
ReplyDeleteHi Lenny - brilliant news that you won with your entry ... so pleased for you. It was so well written, despite the reason ... it's good to know that you realised your Ma would want you to move on ... I'm so pleased you're here and still writing ... I'll be in touch properly anon. Cheers and hugs GrandBlogMom! xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a poignant piece, Lenny. The voice suits the protagonist perfectly.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
As someone who had an incredible mom (the best person I've ever known and that's not hyperbole), I found your letter touching. I think the best way to pay tribute to our moms is to live our lives in a manner that would make them proud.
ReplyDeleteOh, Lenny. You're amazing! Thank you for sharing and congrats on winning! This letter warmed my heart. Thanks for "being just you" because we all benefit from having Lenny in our lives!
ReplyDeleteThis is Jackee Alston... Sorry, I guess it posted anonymously.
DeleteLenny, this letter that you wrote to your mom is a tremendous gift from both you and your mother to all of us who read it and to all of those we will love better because of your story.
DeleteMiss you,
Dr Bush
Even as we grapple with loss as adults, your letter reminds me again how difficult it is for a child to lose a loved one. This letter, authentic and with the voice of a young child, resonates with love and grief and hope. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete