If you are my child there are certain things I will do for you. I will love you unconditionally. I may get angry, or upset, or disappointed or confused by some things you say or do, but that will never be a reason to not love you. I will pray for you and your health and well being. I will laugh with you at the silly things we both did while you were growing up. I will enjoy laughing with you at my own foibles of parenting while I was practicing being a parent at your expense. I will slip you a ten or twenty dollar bill just to make sure you have a little cash in your pocket. I will still buy you candy even when you are an adult. I will always try my best to be understanding and patient. But I know sometimes I will fail. I will always try to be everything you want. But I know sometimes I will fail. I will try my best to not let you down. I will try my best to teach you and give you guidance. And I will try my best to let you learn things for yourself. I will do everything I can to let go when you need to step out of my grasp and be an adult. I will do everything I can to be healthy and strong for you. I will ride my bike and work out to stay fit. I will give up my bike ride if you need me more than I need to ride. I will punch an attacker in the face for you. I will take a punch in the face for you. I will do what I can to protect you. And I will do what I can to teach you how to protect yourself. I will be here for you until God calls me home.
There are certain things I will not do, for you. I will not be your friend when you need a parent. Any one can be your friend. I am the only one who is your mother. I will not interfere with your relationships, but if you ask me… be prepared for the truth, I will not hold back. I will not forget your birthday. I probably will not leave you a fortune when I die. I will not lie to you. I will not always tell you everything. I will not always understand you. I will not always expect you to understand me. I won’t always expect you to listen to me either. I won’t always call you by your name. I won’t be perfect. And I won’t expect you to be perfect. I won’t stop trying. I won’t let you stop trying. I will not always know what to do. I will never give up on you. And even when God calls me home, I will not leave you.
