A Mother's Love

An open letter to my Mama,

I know I’m not always easy to love. I’m stubborn, impulsive, and have one of the biggest mouths out of anyone I know. I go through hobbies and interests like they’re going out of style. I'm always on some plane going somewhere, making spur of the moment decisions, and seeking the next big thrill - and arguing the entire time about how "safe" it is, or ignoring how unsafe it may actually be. My romantic life is about as fruitful or as lucky as a pile of rotten tomatoes. And I continuously find myself in situations where I need unconditional love, support, and guidance. And you have always, always been my support. My rock. You have never judged me (other than a few outfits I have tried to wear to church on Christmas) and you have taught me more than I ever thought possible.

As you age in life, there is often a realization that you are “becoming your mother.” The truth is, I’d love nothing more than to be just like my Mama. If you have the pleasure of knowing her, you’d know all of the following to be true:

She’s driven: a few years ago, my mom had an accident where she broke both of her arms…and from her hospital bed, rather than showing any concern over her situation, she kept concerning herself with others: “Hannah can you call Pastor and let him know I don’t think I will be able to make coffee tomorrow morning for church…” “…Can you call my work and let them know the presentation I am supposed to give next week, though ready, will maybe need to be pushed back.” I joked with her letting her know that it was God’s way of telling her to slow down for a spell. And can you believe it? She managed to break her shoulder this year! Her bravery and perseverance through challenges is truly impressive - while I don't always manage to have that level of immense bravery, I guess I have inherited a bit of that clumsiness... lol.

She’s the kindest spirit you’ll ever meet: Though my parents had been divorced for about a decade when my Pop Pop (Dad’s dad) got sick, we had remained close to that side of my family. My mom refers to that side as her “Out-Laws.” So my Pop Pop got sick, and without hesitation my mama took him in and cared for him until the day he passed. She is always lending a helping hand, over-extending herself for others, and taking care of everyone and everything. She is a true Angel.

She is a motivational poster in a person: Mama’s are notorious for good advice, and mine is no exception. Though the advice has matured through the years from “you better hope you marry rich so you can hire a maid one day…” to having me dig deep for inner strength, granting me wisdom beyond measure. I still read through emails she has sent me after particularly rough days, and with her help, I am reminded of who I truly am, that we are not trees and roots are flexible, and that sometimes it just sucks to grow up.

She’s organized: Seriously. One of the most organized people you’ll ever come across in life. While I have made leaps and strides, sadly, I did not inherit this trait… [thanks ADHD]

She’s adventure driven: I inherited my love and desire to travel the world directly from my mother, and through watching her experience the world in a similar sense. She is always planning her next adventure. From her, I learned to not just travel - but to be a traveler. To truly experience life, meet new people, experience new things - and even if I manage to stress you out with some of my thrill seeking, mama, know that it is kind of your fault.

She is independently amazing: My Mama did it all. On her own. Her independence is a trait that I admire to this day. And while I am gaining more and more of it as I age, I wish I had more of it in my system. In fact, leaving to move west I was emotionally destroyed to be going so far – my mama simply laughed and said “instead of a car ride, it’ll be a plane ride. No big deal!” I am learning as I grow. However independent she might be on a daily basis, she has flocks of people that love her. When she broke her arms, her support system took the stage [and again this time] and she never had to worry about needing care.

And it is because of who she is. She is a beacon of light in a sea of darkness. She is my shining star. The best example a girl could ever strive to be. She is amazing, and she is mine. I am the luckiest girl alive because I get to call her my Mama.

She raised me to be a strong, adventurous, loud-mouthed, strong-willed, unorganized mess of beautiful chaos. She raised me to be me. To be positive. To travel and experience life. To be courageous. To be kind. To be a lady who is both successful and loving. She raised me to do good in the world, just like Superman – she is her own brand of Superwoman.

I know that many women stress out in life about “becoming their mother,” but truly, I can only pray to to only become at least half of mine. Because I know that I will be half way towards being the best person that I can be, and it leaves that extra half that my mom would refer to as “something greater to strive for.”

Happy Birthday, Mama. I miss you every day. See you in Greece this summer.

<3 With all of my love in Seattle, WA