Dear Mom and Dad

Today’s letter comes from the lovely Jen of Jen Migonis of Migonis Home.

Jen’s home and blog are beautiful – but it is about so much more than that. Her home and her blog are a reflection of the love she has for her family. In reading her letter, it is such a gift to see what lead up to the person she is today. That is through the love and caring of her parents growing up, and still today, that has helped her become who she is today – and will be for her family as years go by. Her letter is such a beautiful reminder of the impact that the relationships that are most closest to us have and that they should not be taken for granted. As a mother, I can only hope to be as much for my children as Jen’s parents have been for her. Thank you so much for being part of this Jen.

Mom and Dad with Drew exactly one year ago.

Mom and Dad-

You know what the biggest help to me was this past year as I tried to figure out how to be a good mother to Drew and how for AJ and I to be the best parents possible? It was you. Not anything you said. And it wasn’t even the amazing, and incredibly helpful baby-sitting you provided (although that did give me a chance to consistently see experienced parents interacting with Drew and giving me new ideas of how to both love on him and handle him if he was acting up) but it was remembering how you did it with Kim and me.

I mean, I was your guinea pig but you never let me feel like that. How did you have a clue how to do it well when I was your first? How did I always feel valued and loved and safe? Sometimes when I feel like I’m at my wits end with Drew after a particularly hard day I wonder what you two would have done. How did you keep your patience with two of us, Mom, being with us for about twelve straight hours a day and being five years younger than I am?

And Dad, you left for work early (6:30am eek!) and came home around 6:30pm but never made it seem like there was other stuff for you to do before spending time with our family even though I’m sure there was plenty you needed to do. On weekends when you had to do stuff, like pay bills, it was always something you let Kim and I in on… you let us write the checks and fill out the check register.

Even now you make Kim and I feel like the most special people… just the other day when I was at the doctor’s and then had to go to the hospital for a bit, Mom, you kept Drew for far longer than you anticipated having him even though I knew you had things you needed to get done. You are flexible and gracious. And you are a true mother… even though your daughters are 31 and 29 now.

There is so much I can learn from who you were as Kim and I were growing up and even still so much I can be learning now about how you are still parents even though you’ve let us go (at least somewhat. ) Thank you for helping me be a better mother… someone who aims to love unconditionally, forgive many times and make her family feel safe no matter what.

Love you both.

xoxo

Jenny

Comments

Shirley@Housepitality Designs says:

December 12, 2012 at 7:02 PM

You are blessed to have the support and love of your parents….Children learn what they live..and you have learned from your parents on how to be the best mother to your son…As we were growing up, I guess as kids we truly do not appreciate the love and sacrifice of our parents….as we mature and see the relationship between our parents and their grandchildren, we again see and realize how wonderful they were to us….
I feel badly for those who do not have family to rely on..I was blessed too…to have such wonderful parents who were always there for their children…when we were young and grown with our own families…

Wonderful story…I so enjoyed this…thanks for sharing Jen.