After a short battle with cancer, my mother passed away two weeks ago. She was a woman who chose to be my mother at a time when I needed one greatly. She worked hard at undoing the emotional damage my biological mother left with me. She is the sole reason I am a productive member of society. At a critical point in my life she once said, "Just because you had a cruddy childhood is no excuse to grow into a cruddy adult." That advice, coupled with her love, was a beacon of light that enabled me to navigate some pretty crazy emotions of abandonment during my childhood. Her love has also set the framework to help me help my own daughters deal with anything they might experience as they mature.
While I was not born to you, you are my mother. I miss you horribly but will cherish the memories we had together. Thank you for giving me the values that have turned me into the mother I am today.
