Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine May - Mother's Day Issue | Page 60

Tiffany Tyler
and because you did not want to see me
hurt. I don’t think you have any idea
how much confidence this gave me as a
girl and young woman to know that it is
possible to have someone who loves you
unconditionally.
It is no surprise to anyone that
personally knows us and/or follows
either of us on social media that you
are by far my most favorite person in
the entire world. I started this letter
a number of times but had to stop
because I became overwhelmed with
emotion. I question and/or doubt
many things about God but the one
thing I believe He got 100% correct is
putting the two of us together!
You are the one constant in my life.
The one I can always count on. The one
that will be in my corner no matter how
ridiculous I am being at that particular
moment. Everything you have done
since you became pregnant with me in
December 1976 has been for me. Every
decision, every job, every heartbreak,
every tear, every ounce of your hard
work has been because you wanted to
provided as best as you could for me
A lot of people assume that I
experienced heartbreak due to the end
of my marriage, but you knew I felt it
way before then. And, you always made
me feel better by saying, “you are here
because of a love once shared.” I don’t
think you fully know the impact of those
simple words strung together have on a
child raised in single parent home who
often questioned why the other parent
was absent. Those nine words were and
still are the greatest ones you have ever
said to me.
Even though you only attempted to
physically discipline (thank goodness!)
me once you were a pretty tough parent.
You made it clear where the boundaries
were and that there was not a grey area in
regards to our parent/child relationship
until I was well into adulthood. And,
because of this I am known to tell men,
“My momma didn’t hit so you for d*mn
sure aren’t!” There will not be a cycle of
any type of violence going on with me
and I have you to thank for that.