Recently, we challenged readers to write letters to their children, telling them about their hopes, dreams, fears and joys. Here are five touching letters that inspire hope and reflection for us on Mother’s Day. These women — who share their love, pain and pride — remind us what a wonderful gift it is to be a mother.

A mother’s wish

I wish that I had spent more time playing with you and your toys than trying to clean them up.

I wish that when you hugged me I was not the first one to let go.

I wish I had gotten up early with you when you were younger.

I wish that I had spent more time listening and not judging.

I wish I had stopped trying to fight all your battles and just asked you what you wanted me to do.

I wish I had watched the movie when you asked instead of saying it is too late.

I wish I had told you more about myself.

I wish you had told me more about yourself.

I wish I knew what your friends knew, when you were alive.

I wish I had listened.

I wish I had talked less and

listened more.

I wish I had respected your

privacy.

I wish you could have known when you were alive how many people loved you.

I wish I realized how much you meant to others so that we could have shared that together.

I wish that when you wanted to do something I had just done it.

I wish I could have told your children stories about you.

I wish you could have shared stories with your children.

I wish that you could have grown old with your brother Matt and talked about your parents

together.

I wish I could just hold you one more time.

I wish I had stopped when you asked and just let you be.

I wish you could have found some peace.

I wish that you can visit all the places that you planned.

I wish I could feel your little hand in mine once more.

I wish I could have enjoyed your photography with you and had it on my walls when you were alive.

I wish we could have spent more time in nature, as we both loved it.

I wish that you are happy, peaceful and causing some type of mischief somewhere.

I love you.

Most parents have nine months to prepare for

a baby. Plenty of time to buy a crib, compare infant car seats, find a

cute outfit or two.

Deirdre and James Pye had five days.

They had been married seven years, learned they could not have biological children, and put their names on a wait list for adoption in 1979.

Then they waited. And waited. Would it ever happen? The standing joke was that they should have signed up to adopt the day they were born.

The phone call that would change their lives finally came May 31, 1984. On June 5, they met baby Kathleen.

Having prepared mentally for the possibility for years, suddenly there was much to do logistically to prepare for their only daughter.

James Pye was even the first man at his company to have a baby shower thrown for him.

“I wrote so many-thank you notes, I had writer’s cramp,” recalled Deirdre Pye. “It was just wonderful.”

“(Adoption ) can enrich your life in ways you never ever ever expected.”

To my darling daughter:

You were my biggest challenge as now you are my greatest joy. Adopting you changed my life and your father’s life forever and for the better. When I stop to think back, I often wonder what life would have been like without you. Dull and boring, I suspect. You have brought us untold joy, as well as tears, worry and pride. All these are things I cherish about you.

What would life be without a daily laugh or a weekly crisis? Dull and boring, I know!

What I really cherish is your love for us. You are 25 but you still like coming home. True, you bring everything with you. You take over the kitchen table, the bathroom and my credit card. On the other hand, we share tea, lunch out, Coronation Street and Scrabble. Who can beat that?!

You, my darling daughter, changed the direction of our lives. You changed our focus for the better. We became parents, we became better people. Our horizons expanded and contracted all at the same time. We were praised by some people while others backed away. Who needs negative people in their lives? Since adopting you, there have been moments of heart-stopping joy and heart-stopping moments. That’s life — never dull or boring.

You are now an adult, on your own, and going along your own path. You are on your way to a great future. Along the way, we’ve been as supportive as we could be of your choices and decisions. So far most of them have worked out on the plus side.

Yes, your adoption was a big challenge. Our greatest reward has been that you turned out to be the sort of daughter who has filled our hearts with love and pride.

Biologically, you do not share our DNA, but you do share our unconditional love.

You have always been an integral ingredient in our hearts, minds and souls. I love you, my darling daughter, more than words can say.

All my love forever,

Mom

P.S. This letter would have been longer but tears got in the way!

Karen Filice makes you want to call your mom.

The 52-year-old Stoney Creek real estate agent lost her mother when she was 22, before she experienced motherhood herself.

“I’ve been without her now more than I’ve been with her.” She hears people complain about their mothers being around too much. Complaining, when their mothers are alive and a phone call away.

“You idiots,” she thinks to herself. “You have no clue how lucky you are.”

She did her best as a young mom raising her three boys, Christopher, Matthew and James, now 27, 26 and 25. But it was hard not having her mom there. She couldn’t look at a picture of her without crying.

The letter, which her sons will read for the first time today, was something she thought about writing for a long time. She wanted to explain why she parented the way she did.

“I feel like I abandoned my kids too early. I know I didn’t (mean to) do it that way. Writing that letter, I hope that they understand that I love them.”

To my darling children:

I lost my mom young and missed her terribly. When you, my first, were born, I had to turn over all the pictures I had of her because to see her made me cry and miss her more.

I love you all so much, but was so afraid of leaving you when you were young, that I distanced myself from you to make you tough — so that if I died young, you would not be as devastated as I was.

How stupid could I have been? You all know how much I love you — I have never held back telling you. I gave you a brain to think with, let you answer all your questions on your own, made you stand on your own two feet, but if I could do it again, I wouldn’t have separated myself from you when you were in your teens. I would have been there even more if I could do it again.

To my first, you were and are my sunshine and joy. You had the brunt of my being a new mom, trying to be perfect and learning with you along the way. You are the rebel, the one who has to do everything yesterday. You are strong and awesome in my eyes. You have determination and are not afraid to go after what you want. My advice to you with your girls — remember that the oldest is still young; let her be a little girl. I wish I hadn’t expected so much of you.

To my second, you were my bear. I was so afraid of miscarrying you that until you were born I did not want to think of you for fear of losing you. I fell in love with you when you were born. You were and are my quiet one, always observing and going about doing things your own way. I cannot believe how you have worked, developed a relationship, and graduated from college all on your own ticket! Your quiet regard, your thoughtfulness, and your hugs are precious to me.

To my third — the imp who had to do everything that the others did without fear even though you were two years younger, your smiles mean the world to me. You were and are fearless. On your own, you worked your way through university, graduated, and have a full-time job — debt free! You are active, snowboard, skateboard, travel, maintain a relationship, and you are my keeper, always checking up to make sure I am OK.

Boys — I think you know how much I love you. Sometimes it hurts to look at you — I love you so much. I am so proud of you all.

Love, your mom.

The angel never leaves her. It hangs around her neck, doesn’t comes off. Sealed inside Laurie Northrup’s gold angel charm are the ashes of her only son, Logan.

“It gives me comfort and peace,” she said. “If I get upset or something, sometimes I’ll just hold it. It’s like holding my son still, close to my heart.”

Logan Whittle, a boy she describes as a little gem, died Aug. 15, 2006, of complications from cerebral palsy. He was almost 10.

She cares for other people’s children now, working at a Hamilton day care since Logan’s death. “I’m not there for the money. I’m there for the love of the children. They fill my heart.”

On most Sundays, she and her husband also offer respite care for Patrick, a 14-year-old boy who has autism and cerebral palsy. “He’s like a son,” she said.

Living with Logan, and now caring for Patrick, has taught her an important life lesson. “Quality of life is what you make it, not what you’re given.”

Kissed by an angel

When a child is born into this world they are placed in the arms of their parents to be welcomed and begin bonding.

This is their birthday.

Logan, your life began with a fight for life and you won, after 20 minutes without a heartbeat!

My life changed forever when you were diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and you had to depend on me for everyday survival.

As you began to grow and develop, you left a trail of memories and challenges that made me laugh and cry.

Despite your limitations, you thought you were perfect, and to me and everyone else who knew you, you were.

Eyes that shone, big and round, the colour of a sunflower.

Your mischievous smile and how your belly rolled with laughter, or that quivering lip when you cried that always got you what you wanted and more.

As your learning became more intense you took me into your world to teach me how to understand your thoughts, your ways of loving and learning unconditionally.

You became my inspiration, made me whole, my life was complete by having you in it.

Just before your tenth birthday you were found face down, no signs of life and no heartbeat.

At that moment you took a part of me with you.

The pain I thought would never go away, the guilt, relief and exhaustion were feelings I didn’t understand at the moment, but I knew you were in a better place.

Since that day, many nights I awake with a chill and a wet smudge on my cheek.

I know I was kissed by an angel, my son Logan.

You’re just a breath away, your short time on earth made it a better place.

October 26th, 1996, to August 15th, 2006.

You are in my heart forever, little man.

Love and kisses,

Mummy.

A daughter, with her growing belly, watched her mother being wheeled into surgery. “Not now mom … Hang on.”

A daughter-in-law, also pregnant, prayed for her survival too. “You can’t go anywhere.”

Karen Bettencourt remembers her oncologist laughing about the double family pregnancies. “I can see where you get your strength from.”

Yes, the hope of watching grandkids grow is a lot to live for.

It’s been five years since 61-year-old Bettencourt had her stomach removed to stop the spread of carcinoid tumours.

The Hamilton mother of four, grandmother of 10, is also battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, another cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system. Her doctor recently told her the cancer had spread to the liver and pancreas. Bettencourt tried to crack a joke to lighten the mood.

“I tell you this and you’re still laughing,” the doctor replied. “Or at least you’re trying.”

“What do you do, y’know?” said Bettencourt. She pauses, then answers herself. “You fight.”

My dearest children and grandchildren,

I want to thank each of you for being the amazing, loving children you are.

I see how wonderfully you have grown into responsible, successful and warm-hearted people and I thank God for the opportunity to have spent time with each of you.

You have made me feel that my life has been worthwhile and fulfilling.

We never know what life is going to bring us, and I have been given the challenge of fighting cancer, but you all know how stubborn I am.

Time is never long enough and I am fighting for as much as I can have.

I can never get enough of each of you and I discover something more amazing about each of you every time we visit.

Life has been a real journey raising all four of you and now enjoying my 10 grandchildren, each one is so different and special in their own way.

I am finding it very hard to allow myself to think about leaving you and not being there for all your triumphs and ups and downs of life.

I want to be there to attend the graduations of my grandchildren and their weddings and babies.

I want you all to know that I am fighting as hard as I can and I value every new day with all of you.

Please remember if I miss a game or a new accomplishment that I would have chosen to be there if I could.

Always remember I love all of you more than the stars and more than you will ever know.

And remember, if you are ever given the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.

Love always,

Mom

最近，我們倡議讀者寫信給他們的子女，告訴他們自己的希望，夢想，恐懼和歡樂。在母親節(jié)里，這里有五個母親的感人來信，激起我們的希望與思考。這些婦女-分享了她們的愛，痛苦和驕傲-提示著我們成為一個母親是一個多么美好的禮物。

**

母親的愿望

我愿我花了更多的時間陪你玩那些玩具，而不是花時間整理它們。

我愿當你擁抱我時，我不是第一個放開的。

我愿在你年幼時我能起得早早的陪你。

我愿我花了更多的時間傾聽，而不是評判。

我愿我停下來和你一道克服每一個困難，而只是問你，需要我做些什么。

我愿我如你所愿所去看了電影，而不是說時間已晚。

我愿我告訴你更多關于我的事情。

我愿你告訴了我更多關于你的自己。

我愿當你還活著時，我能夠知道所有你朋友都知道的事。

我愿我聽了。

我愿我說的很少

聽你很多。

我愿我尊重了你的

隱私。

我愿你能知道，你活著時有那么多人愛著你。

我愿我已意識到你對他人意味著那么的多，讓我們能夠共同的分享。

我愿當你想做什么時，我已經(jīng)做了。

我愿我能夠告訴你的孩子們，有關你的故事。

我愿你能夠和你的孩子們分享故事。

我愿你能與你的兄弟馬特一起變老，一起談論你的父母 。

我愿我能再多一次擁抱你。

我愿我沒有制止你的要求，而是讓你如愿以償。

我愿你已找到了寧靜。

我愿您現(xiàn)在可以訪問所有你曾計劃訪問的地方了。

我愿我能感覺你的小手再一次握在我的手心。

我愿能夠與你欣賞那張你掛在我墻上的照片。

我愿我們能花更多的時間徜徉于我們都熱愛的大自然。

我愿你現(xiàn)在快樂，寧靜，有時還是那么頑皮。

我愛你。

**

大多數(shù)家長都九個月的時間來為一個嬰兒做準備 。

有足夠的時間買嬰兒床，比較哪一種嬰兒汽車座椅更好，找到一兩套漂亮的嬰兒裝。

而Deirdre 和James 卻只有五天的時間。

他們結(jié)婚已有七年，然后知道他們不能生孩子，于是就加入了1979年的排隊領養(yǎng)名單。

然后他們就這樣等啊，等啊。到底也沒可能呢？他們常開玩笑說，早知道如此，不如在他們出生那天就去簽署領養(yǎng)協(xié)議！

終于，在1984年5月31日，一個電話改變了他們的生活。 6月5日，他們見到了嬰兒Kathleen。

雖然在精神上做了多年的準備，但突然間為了他們唯一的女兒，還是有很多現(xiàn)實的工作要準備。

James Pye甚至是他公司第一位有嬰兒的人。

Deirdre Pye后來回憶說“我寫了很多--謝謝你--的小紙條，寫得手都發(fā)顫， 真是太美妙了。 ”

“ （領養(yǎng)）會以你意想不到的方式豐富你的生活 ”

我親愛的女兒：

你是我最大的挑戰(zhàn)，正如你現(xiàn)在是我最大的快樂。領養(yǎng)你，永遠地改變了我和你父親的生活，把我們的生活變得更為美好。當回想過去，我常常疑惑沒有你的生活會是什么樣子？會是沉悶和乏味，我懷疑！你已經(jīng)給我們帶來了難以言說的歡樂，淚水，擔心和自豪。所有這一切讓我格外的珍愛你。

如果沒有每天的歡笑和每周的生氣，生活會是怎樣？沉悶和乏味，我知道！

我真正愛視的是你對我們的愛。你已經(jīng)25歲了 ，但仍然喜歡回家。真的，你帶來了一切。接管餐桌，清理浴室和檢查我的信用卡。此外，我們共享午茶，外出就餐，逛街購物。如此幸福有誰能比？

你，我親愛的女兒，改變了我們生活的方向，你使我們?nèi)プ非蟾?。我們成為了父母，成為了更好的人。我們同呼吸共命運。

當其他人退縮時我們卻到了人們的贊揚。誰會在他們的生活中拒絕別人？自從領養(yǎng)了你，就有了那么多因歡樂和擔憂，和停止心跳的時刻。這就是生活，--永無沉悶或無聊！

你現(xiàn)在已長大成人，以你自己的方式，沿著你自己的道路。通往一個偉大的未來。一路上，我們一如既往的支持著你的選擇和決定。而迄今為止，你大多數(shù)的努力已碩果初現(xiàn)。

是的，領養(yǎng)你是一個巨大的挑戰(zhàn)。而我們最大回報，則是你成為一個女兒，已經(jīng)用愛和自豪填滿了我們的心。

生理上，你沒有分享我們的DNA ，但你分享了我們無條件的愛。

你一直是我們心中，我們的思想和靈魂中一個不可分割的組成部分。我愛你，我親愛的女兒，沒有任何語言可以表達！

永遠愛你的，

媽媽

P.S.這封信將本應更長，但淚水，已將其阻斷！

***

52歲的房地產(chǎn)經(jīng)紀人Stoney Creek，在22歲的時候失去了母親，那是在她自己成為母親之前。

"煩死了，我到情愿沒有母親" 當她聽到人們抱怨自己的母親如何干涉太多，或者當他們打電話給母親時總聽她沒完沒了的抱怨。 她會說“你真是個大傻瓜，你不知道自己有多幸運！”

像所有年輕的媽媽，她盡全力撫養(yǎng)她的三個兒子，Christopher, Matthew and James,現(xiàn)在分別是27 ， 26和25 。但由于沒有媽媽在身邊，這對她來說是一段相當困難的日子，以至于她一看見母親的照片就要哭泣。

她很長一段時間來一直想寫這封信，想解釋為什么當初，她要那么嚴厲的對待孩子。 她的兒子們也將在今天第一次讀到。

“我覺得我放手太早了。但我內(nèi)心并沒有（想）這樣做。所以寫了這封信，希望他們能明白我愛他們。 “

致我親愛的孩子：

我在年輕的時候失去了媽媽，而且我非常的思戀她。當我第一次當母親時，我不得不把所有她的照都收起來，以免看到這些照片我又要哭泣，更加思戀。

我太愛你們了，同時也十分害怕在你們還年幼時失去我，所以我刻意保持距離讓你們?nèi)兆与y過--這樣一旦我去世，你們會就不會象我一樣備受摧殘。

我這樣做是不是太愚蠢了？雖然我從來沒有告訴你們，但大家都知道我是多么愛你們。我讓你們用自己的大腦進行思

考，讓你們用自己的方式回答你們的所有問題，讓你們自立。但如果我能重新來過，我不會讓自己在你們十幾歲時就疏離

你們。如果我再來一次，我會選擇呆在一起，甚至更多。

我的老大，你是我的陽光和歡樂。你讓我第一次成為媽媽，使我不斷努力以求完善，并與你一塊學習進步。你是個造反派，

一個凡事要求完美的人，在我眼里是那么堅強而威武。你果斷，無所不畏懼地跟隨著自己的愿望。我對你和你女友的忠告

是，--記住，人再老也年輕，始終要把她當一個小女孩。但愿我對你的希望不算過分。

我的老二，你是我的負擔。我是如此害怕失去你以致到你出生，我都因為害怕失去你而不去想你。你一生下來我就愛上了

你。不論過去現(xiàn)在你都是最安靜的一個，總是按自己的方式去觀察和行事。我到現(xiàn)在也不能相信你是怎樣做到的，從工

作，建立關系，到大學畢業(yè)一路都靠自己打拼！您的安靜注視，你的體貼，和你的擁抱，對我都無比珍貴。

我的老三-一個做什么事都不知畏懼的小鬼頭，即使你只有兩歲，你的微笑對于我就意味了整個的世界。你過去和現(xiàn)在都

無所畏懼。你通過自己的勞動，考取大學，畢業(yè)，并有了一個全職的工作-而且沒有債務！您活躍，滑雪，滑板，旅行，保持

關系，你是我的守護者，總是隨時檢查，確保我OK沒事。

男孩們-我想你們知道我有多愛你們。我是如此愛你們--以致有時看著你們，會感到一種痛。我為你們感到驕傲。

愛你們的媽媽。

**

天使從來沒離開過Laurie Northrup，它一直掛她的脖子上。

那個漂亮的金色天使里面密封著她的獨生子-Logan-的骨灰。

“如果我生氣或遇其他不高興的事， ”她說。 “只要握住它，就會讓我感到舒服和寧靜。就像我仍然握住我的兒子，在靠近

我心的地方。 “

Logan Whittle，一個小寶石樣的男孩，8月15日，2006年，在他近10歲時，死于腦癱并發(fā)癥。

自從Logan去世后，Laurie更關心別的孩子，她現(xiàn)在在漢密爾頓做日托工作 “我在那兒不是為了錢，我愛那些孩子。他們填補了我的心。 “

大多數(shù)的周日，她和她的丈夫會對Patrick提供間隙照顧， Patrick是個14歲患有孤獨癥和腦癱的男孩。 “他就像我的兒子， ”她說。

和Logan在一起，現(xiàn)在照顧Patrick的經(jīng)歷，告訴她一個生命的重要啟示。 “有質(zhì)量的生命是看你做了什么，而不是擁有什

么”

天使之吻

當一個孩子出生在這個世界上，被放置在父母的臂灣受到歡迎，并一起開始共同的課程。

這時就是他們共同的生日。

洛根，你的生命開始于一場你自己的生命之戰(zhàn)，在出生 20分鐘還沒有心跳之后！

當你被診斷為腦萎縮時，我的生活就永遠地改變了。你每一天的生存都依賴著我。

當你開始成長，和發(fā)展時，留下的片段回憶和挑戰(zhàn)讓我笑了，而后又哭了起來。

盡管你有所受限，但你認為你是完美的，而我和其他人所有認識你的人也都是這樣認為，是的，你是。

晶亮的眼睛，又大又圓,那是一種向日葵的顏色。

你那淘氣的微笑，以及不知怎么從腹部發(fā)出來的笑聲，和當你哭泣時顫抖的嘴唇，總是讓你如愿以償，或得到更多。

當你的學習更加強烈時你會把我引到了你的世界，教我如何理解你的想法，你的方式，怎樣無條件地對待愛和學習。

你是我的靈感，我的全部，我的生命因有了你而完滿。洛根。

就在你的十歲生日前，你被發(fā)現(xiàn)面部朝下，沒有生命跡象，也沒有心跳。

那一刻起你就帶走了我一部分的生命。

那種痛，我想今生永遠都無法擺脫了，那種當時復雜的情緒讓我迷惑，但我知道，你是到了一個更好的地方。

從那一天起，有很多的夜里，我被寒冷和遺留臉頰的潤濕弄醒。

我知道我是被天使吻了，一個天使，我兒子洛根。

你離我，僅是一口氣的距離，洛根。你在世間停留的時間雖短卻使它因你而更好。

1996年10月26日--2006年8月15日。

你永遠在我心中，小伙子。

愛和吻

媽咪。

**

一個女兒，她的肚子越來越大，看著她的母親被推向手術。 “不要現(xiàn)在，媽媽...千萬挺住。 ”

一個同樣懷孕的媳婦，也在祈求她的平安。 “你可哪都不能去啊。 ”

Karen Bettencourt清楚記得她身患癌癥面對雙喜臨門時的笑聲。 “我知道你從哪里來的力量。 ”

是啊，希望能看著孫兒們的成長，是活著的強大動力。

自從61歲的Bettencourt切掉胃制止了癌腫瘤的轉(zhuǎn)移，到現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)五年過去了。

這位漢密爾頓有著4個孩子，10個孫兒的母親， ，也是非霍奇金淋巴瘤(-non-Hodgkin lymphoma)的抗爭者，但另一種癌

癥細胞已開始入侵了免疫系統(tǒng)。她的醫(yī)生最近告訴她，癌癥已經(jīng)擴散到了肝臟和胰腺。 Bettencourt試圖開玩笑減輕情

緒。

“我告訴您這點，而您仍然說笑， ”醫(yī)生回答。 “ 或者，至少您是在試著說笑。 ”

“您知道您能做什么嗎？ ”Bettencourt說 。她暫片刻，然后自己回答道。 “戰(zhàn)斗。 ”

我最親愛的孩子和孫兒們:

我想感謝你們，可愛的孩子們，你們每一個都是那么美妙。

我看見你們是如何奇妙地長大成人，成為有責任的，成功的和善良的人，我感謝上帝能賜予我機會與你們每一個共度時光。

你們讓我感到我的生命的價值和意義。

我們永遠不知道我們下一步的生活怎樣，我在挑戰(zhàn)著癌癥，你們都知道我是何等的頑固。

時間永遠都不會足夠長，但我會盡力爭取。

我也永遠不滿足與你們相處的時間，每一次，我都會發(fā)現(xiàn)你們每一個的更多奇妙之處。

生命是一個真正的旅程，把你們四個撫養(yǎng)長大，而現(xiàn)在享受著10孫子繞膝之樂，你們每一個人都是如此不同，都那么獨具

個性。

一想起會離開你們，不再參與你們所有的勝利狂歡和跌宕起伏的生活，我就會非常難過。

我想親臨我孫子們的參加畢業(yè)典禮自現(xiàn)場，想?yún)⒓铀麄兊幕槎Y，看他們的嬰兒....

我想你們都知道，我盡力奮戰(zhàn);因為我珍惜每個新的一天能與你們大家在一起。

請?zhí)嵝盐?，如果我闖關失敗或取得新的成績，如果我可以我當然會選擇后者。

但永遠記住:我愛你們所有人，超過天上的星星，超過你們的想象。

同時請記住:如果你們有機會選擇呆坐還是跳舞，我希望你們跳舞。

總是愛你們的，

媽媽

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