Happy Mother’s Day – Short Letters to the Mums in My Life

To Maman,

You carried me.

You gave birth to me.

You raised me.

Single-handedly.

For a long time, it was just the two of us against the world, and we were pretty happy.

Then you gave me the most beautiful gift any mother could give her child: siblings. My three little brothers, my sunshines, mes frangins.

To Mamie,

Ma petite Mamie, there is no way you’ll be able to read this as

1) it’s online and

2) it’s in English, but I don’t care.

I am so grateful you’ve always been such a strong presence in my life.

Daughter of a baker, wife of a workaholic, mother-of-four… you have shaped me, loved me and looked after me when mum was busy working.

I am grateful we’ve always been so close.

To Adeline,

I always knew you’d be an amazing mum. I’d watched you and your own mum. The special bond you shared with Carline was something else!

Listening to you as you were struggling to conceive was heart-breaking. I could see how ready you were to become a mum, who would cherish, nurture and raise respectful little humans.

Ju and you have done such a wonderful job with your three. They are a gorgeous little bunch.

I just wish we could all see each other more regularly.

To Cé,

From the minute you first held Crevette, it looked like the pieces of a puzzle were starting to fit together.

You’d make such a great mum! Not just any mum, though. You are one of a kind; a mum whose love has no limits yet a mum who isn’t duped by children’s shenanigans. Ever. You are a rock, mama!

You’re like your own lovely mum, albeit a softer version of CatCat.

You’ve gone through some tough shizzle in the past few years, yet you’ve managed to get up in the morning, look after the girls and be the best mum you could be.

My admiration and love for you has no bounds, my dear ‘sister from another mother!’

… and last but not least,

To me!

Will you stop being so self-critical and feel like you could always do more, be more?

You love your four children more than you ever thought was humanely possible.

You protect them with all your might, yet let them me independent and encourage them to be whoever they want to be.

You love them fiercely.

You teach them daily.

You let them be.

You are there. Always.

Never forget that.