A book is pages, pictures and words
A book is animals, people and birds
A book is stories of queens and kings
Poems and songs-so many things!
Curled in a corner where I can hide
With a book I can journey far and wide
Though it’s only paper from end to end
A book is a very special friend.
I know that many of you may have already seen this. I think this is a fitting way to end this year’s Mother’s Day. I can relate so well to this mother’s request. I can almost hear my mom asking me to be patient with her.
You see, I went through this as my mother got older and her mental capacity slowly diminished.
I can also say that there were a few times that I lost my patience with her. I wish that I had seen this letter before. I wish that I was made aware of what she was going throught and be prepared to understand the changes as they developed.
I’m sharing this so that others as aware of this process that occurs with elderly parents. It isn’t easy. It takes time and effort. It takes love and understanding. As I remember, my mother became the child and I became the adult.
“My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”… Just listen, please.
Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.
When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?
When you see how slow I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way… remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day… the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through.
If I occasionally lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.
And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked.
When those days come, don’t feel sad… just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love.
I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared.
With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you … my darling daughter.”
Letter from a Mother to her Daughter that became the most viral Facebook update of 2012. It was originally written by Guillermo Peña in Spanish and translated into English by Sergio Cadena, Founder of Spring in the Air Luxury Roses.
It was first posted with permission from the author on the Spring in the Air Facebook page to honor Mother’s Day. In just two days, this post reached over 22 million people around the world. It has since been posted in over 24 languages and thousands of websites and blogs.
It is a truly emotional reminder of how much we owe our Mothers.
It Is What It Is 