Mother’s Day is Sunday here in the U.S., and I must say that I’ve got a pretty amazing Mom.
Let me tell you about her a little bit.
First off, my mom probably doesn’t know that Tupac Shakur wrote a song called “Dear Mama” back in the 1990s. There’s about a 99.9% chance she doesn’t even know who Tupac Shakur is.
That’s fine. You might have heard of him. The chorus of the song basically says, “Dear Mama, you are appreciated.” And that’s what I’m telling you about my Mom today.
She was the first person who read to me when I was a toddler. Later, she helped teach me how to read, and she was the first person I ever remember reading with. To this day, we still talk about books.
Though I never developed her love for the Louis L’amour western, and though I know she wouldn’t be caught dead reading books like Infinite Jest or The Catcher in the Rye, I’ve always had a special bond with her over the beauty of literature.
When I abruptly withdrew from law school to go back through undergrad and become a writer, she supported me the entire time. She understood me when a lot of people were probably tilting their head.
Everybody talks about the importance of fathers these days—and, as a father, I understand the responsibility I have. But moms are where it’s at. When you have a good mom, a mom that loves you and supports you no matter what, you’ve been given a head start in life. You’re so much more equipped to deal with all the crap that might come your way.
So thanks Mom. Thanks for passing on your love of reading to me—and, more than that, thanks for you just being a wonderful mom. You prepared me for life, and I wouldn’t be much of a reader or a writer without you.
You’re the best. I love you.
If you’re fortunate enough to have a wonderful mom who’s still around, make sure you stop by or give her a call this weekend. You wouldn’t be here, quite literally, without her.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the great moms out there!
