A'Kala Chaires

Letter to My Daughter on Mother's Day

It is my first official Mother's Day. I had you make Mother's day cards for everyone but me. It feels so strange to ask and then watch you craft a card for me. But, I always make sure that everyone else gets one. Our story is long and complicated. We officially adopted you this year. So many things had to fall apart before that could be put together. I lost my best friend. My trust was betrayed and my heart was broken; more than once. You were terrified and too young to verbalize that. When you realized that my home would be your home permanently, everything changed. I almost stopped going to school. It was too difficult to be one of your moms and participate in student life. What the hell was student life when it meant that you were growing up without me? I missed you terribly. I questioned my position in your life every day for nearly five years. You were mine the day you were born. The first day I held you, I promised you that you and I would always be together. When things took a turn, I felt like my purpose in your world did too.