We live in such a high tech time. Handwritten letters and postcards have been tossed to the side and replaced with Facebook updates, tweets and texts.
It may seem like we are communicating more with our friends and loved ones, but are we really? How much sentiment can you express in 140 characters or less?
I find it very disheartening that people would rather text someone than pick up the phone and call. Call me old fashioned but I prefer actual conversations over texts and Facebook messages.
My mom and dad are no longer with us. I often wonder what they would think of today’s technology. I’m pretty sure they would have no interest in it whatsoever. They would still prefer a phone call from all the kids, and I would agree.
Mother’s Day is coming up which always makes me think about my mom.
It’s not something that I talk about often, but my mom and dad were really my paternal grandparents.
To make a long story short my biological mother abandoned me when I was just a toddler. She literally packed her bags and disappeared and left me behind with their dog. Thankfully she took the time to call my paternal grandparents to let them know I was there and if they wanted me they needed to come and get me.
During all of this my father was in the military stationed in Japan. There was nothing he could do from his end.
My grandparents took me in and cared for me as if I was their own child.
I was very sick when they acquired me and I ended up in the hospital. My paternal grandmother ensured the doctors that she would do whatever it took to make sure I got healthy – and she did.
After being cared for by my paternal grandparents for over a year my father was able to come home for good from the Army. At that time in my life I was calling my paternal grandparents “mom” and “dad.” I heard my aunt (who was 8 years older than me at the time) calling them “mom and “dad,” so I called them that too.
My grandmother felt that it would have been too confusing to stop me from calling them “mom” and “dad,” so she came up with the idea of raising me as if I was their child. At that time my father was very young and unable to care for a toddler. It seemed to work out best for everyone.
From that point on my grandparents were my mom and dad. They treated me as if I was their own child.
My mom especially showed me day after day how much she loved and cared for me. She would be by my side when I was sick. She was there to hug me when I had my heart broken. She would stay up all night long to make sure I got home safe and sound when I went out to parties with my friends. She did everything a mom would do, even though she didn’t give birth to me.
I liken my situation to someone who was adopted. Although they didn’t formally adopt me, they did love and care for me as if I was their own flesh and blood.
Even when I turned 21 and my mom told me the truth about things, she was still 100% my mom. As far as I am concerned she is the ONLY mom I’ve ever had.
You don’t have to give birth to someone to be their mother. All you need is love, and my mom showed me that all through my life.
My mom passed away in 2003 after a long illness. Even though she’s been gone for many years I still talk about her fondly and miss her dearly.
I am grateful that she became my mom. She taught me how to be a mom to my children. I owe everything I know about being a parent to her. She was always there for me, 24/7 as I am for my kids.
I often wonder what my life would have been like if I didn’t come to live with my mom and dad. In an odd way I am grateful that my biological mother abandoned me. If she didn’t I wouldn’t have grown up in such a wonderful, loving and caring home.
This Mother’s Day, instead of sending your mom a text, tweet or online message, why not put your heart to paper and write your mom – or that special woman in your life – a heartfelt letter and tell her all the reasons why you love her and why you are truly blessed to have her in your life. Better yet – why not tell her these things in person?
To help encourage you to put your heart to paper, Hallmark has created a special website to help inspire and encourage you. Please visit www.PutYourHeartToPaper.com for more information.
See what others are saying by checking out the hashtag #PutYourHeartToPaper.
Who is that special woman in YOUR life? Is it your biological mom, adoptive mom, grandmother, aunt or someone else? Why is this person so important to you?
I would very much love to hear from my readers. Feel free to share your stories.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with Hallmark and Cafe Mom to bring you this post. Although compensated the opinions expressed are entirely my own and not influenced in any way.