A Mother’s Day Love Letter to the Mom I Miss Every Day

I will remember my mom on Mother’s Day as I always do. Every Mother’s Day since I lost her has allowed me to reflect differently. Each year has its own special story that plays in my mind.

My niece graduated from college recently, so the memories I have of my mom this year reflect on how proud she was of us when we achieved life goals such as graduation or self-expression. I am certain she was smiling down on my niece on her graduation day. She was there, in attendance.

This reminded me of how enthusiastically she attended all my gigs when I was a singer and musician. Starting with my performances with my electric guitar in 5th grade and on to my first rock band at the age of 14, she was all in. She made me an amazing pair of bell-bottom fake leopard fur pants. Those suckers were hot, but I was so cool. They still hang in my closet.

She then cheered me on through my career as a singer-songwriter. She came to every performance I allowed her to attend and marveled at my songwriting. I can see her in the crowd, beaming and swaying to my music.

She never critiqued my performance or give me notes. She was simply my biggest fan and made me feel as though she was in awe of my creativity, and I was the greatest performer in the world.

You can’t buy that kind of pure admiration, and I was so blessed to have experienced it from her. It gave me a priceless gift of always feeling free and confident within my creativity, allowing me so much joy when I’m creating.

Even as dementia ravaged her mind and body, she pleaded with me to keep singing and playing my guitar. It was one of the last requests she made of me.

I am thankful for a gift she gave me so easily and sincerely. I hope she knows what an extraordinary influence it had on me and what a difference it made in the way I walk through the world.

This Mother’s Day will be spent with gratitude for a mom who gave me a ticket to a free and glorious creative spirit that serves me well long after she is no longer physically with me to cheer me on.

Thank you, Mom, for your support. I will feel it this Mother’s Day and sing a song in your honor. I know you are listening.

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Dear Caregiver Warriors,

As one Caregiver Warrior to another, I offer advice, helpful tips, and strategies based on the experience, strength, and hope I found while surviving my own caregiving journey. It has become my mission to share my stories and the things I learned about being an empowered caregiver. To help spread the word and offer guidance to other caregivers, I have written a new book entitled “Self Care for Caregivers: a practical guide to caring for you while you care for your loved one.”  It’s available at your favorite bookstore. There is even an audio version so you can listen on the go! If you find the book everything you hoped for, please let me know, and please leave a review where you purchased the book! Your feedback means the world to me!