Jane’s open letter to an inspiring woman on International Women’s Day

Dear Mom,

With today being International Women's Day, I just wanted to take this time to write to you and thank you for being such an incredible mother and a place of constant love, guidance and example.

We have always had such a close bond and I get weepy at the thought of us one day not being a phone call away. A thought that is hard to comprehend so before I crumple into a mess, I move on.

I love how our connection transcends words and we can just be thinking about each other and make each other's phone ring, and we answer in unison 'mental telepathy'.

I have loved you from the first moment I met you. You only really understand the profound gift of life and living for others when you become a mother. How many times have I phoned out of the blue to say thank you and apologise for being such a rascal growing up. (That's the PC way of putting it)

Thank you for holding me while I sobbed over heartache, disappointment and unkindness. It couldn't have been easy for you but you always stood fast. ‘This too shall pass my love' are words I have heard often and they did pass and I am stronger for it. Thank you for collecting me from a friend's house late at night when I wanted to come home. Thank you for allowing me to fight my own battles. I can't imagine how hard that must have been. Thank you being by my side (and always) while I made bad choices, failed miserably and thought I knew better. Thank you for sending money, food and love when I needed it the most. Thank you for driving me, together with all my stuff from Cape Town to Durban through the hot garden route. We drove hour after hour in my loyal red Chico that had no aircon and hurtled along like a hot box on wheels.

Thank you for making me work double shifts at a Spur to pay the rent for the house which I bailed from, red-faced I would hand over my earnings. At the time it was hard to digest but the lesson and value I learnt was priceless. 

You have always loved me no matter what, even when you used to fake drop me on the side of the road when I was being dispicable and 'drive away’ only to return shortly after.

Your selfless dedication to Jess, dad, myself and the rest of our family is inspiring. Thank you for your sense of humor. I find these days that I say a lot of things especially to the kids which make me think to myself 'I sound like my mother right now’.

Thank you for the endless sacrifices. I love you with all my heart and strive daily to be just like you.  Thank you for choosing me. I cherish and adore you. X