Step right up, gitcher Kleenex right here...(long)

[minkydog]

Let me say right up front, if you're not in the mood for a long post,pass this one. If you're in a snarky state of mind, leave now. This is for all those parents of difficult children, the ones whose kids never made good grades, who couldn't sit still, who never got picked first for anything, who dyed their hair electric blue and said "I hate you" at every opportunity. This is for the parents whose kids are in an unlovley stage--there is hope. This one's for you .

This morning I received the most delightful and unusual letter from my son.As you know the road has been long and winding and most troublesome with him, and today is his birthday.Here is what he wrote(please forgive the typos and grammar--my mistakes, not his):

Today for my birthday I wanted to do something REALLY special. I am now 20 years old and no longer a teenager. I started thinking, "What happens at 20?" I came to he undeniable answer that...nothing...actually happens. it's not that big of a deal.BUT upon taking closer inspection I realized how big of a deal it really is.

and after thinking it over I just wanted to say...

Thank you...

MOM

Thank you mom for homeschooling me. You taught me what the inside of a cow heart, a sheep's eye, and the human ear look like. Thank you for putting up with my selfish and childish statements, questions and arguments. Thank you for making my life fun and teaching me the beauty of nature, music, cooking, art, and lest we forget, theater! Thank you for making up bedtime stories about me and my dog. 20 years you have helped me grow into a man and 20 years you have put up with me as a child. I wanted to thank you for not leaving me on someone's door step, and let you know that your good deeds will not be forgotten but as long as i live. YOu have earned the title "MOM" and I love you very much.

DAD

thank you for being a father to me. without your sage advice and understanding of what "being a man" is i never would have made it throught high school. Thank you for giving me a wonderful home and an accepting famly life to thrive in. Thank you for camping out in the back yard with me and building a "tree fort" in the back yard. thank you for building a swing set for me when I was little. Thank you for your tolerance of me and thank you for your humor. thank you for Being a man and for being my hero. Many times we have had our arguments, many times we have yelled, but never once did you strike me. That alone means more than anything you could ever give me.Thank you for caring about me enough to get me help when I needed it. I wanted to thank you for not shipping me off to Taiwan and tell you that I am grateful that you have earned the title of "DAD" and I love you very much.

To both

one might say you are just "doing your job." But you and I both know you have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for supporting me, thank you for punishing me, and thank you for making me who I am today. I hope that I can one day make you as proud as you have made me.

He attached a drawing of his hand--the palm green & yellow and the fingers orangy-red, titled "Turtle on Fire"

That's my boy My first thought was,"I hope it didn't go and kill himself in the basement."(awful, I know) But then DH reminded me that John has been in a good mood and things are going well at work, so he didn't think he had killed himself after all. Ha, didn't keep me from checking though.

 

[lucyanna girl]

I have tears in my eyes. What a special tribute.



Penny

 

[mssocks]

That was really lovely - you've raised an insightful young man.

 

[coolbeans]

Awwwwwwwwww! How sweet!

 

[Charade]

 

[PrincessPatty]

You have an awesome kid!

 

[btass]

Oh, I didn't get the tissue, and I should have. That letter could have been written by me to my parents. Actually I did write one that is similar but I was almost thirty when I did it.

That letter shows me that for 20 years you guys did the right thing by your son and that is what parents are supposed to do!

 

[dementia412]

All I can hope for now is a picture of me, my dh, and the kids, some animals that all look the same but are officially a horse, hippo, and elephant with the word OOZ written over it, and my son saying "it's us at the zooooooo mommy"
.... well I'm happy with that

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Amazing, beautiful and a definite tear-jerker for me.

 

[snowwhitesmom]

It's those little pearls that make it all worthwhile. Now go put that on your strand of pearls and admire it for awhile............you have done a great job of parenting, that's obvious!

 

[CEDmom]

What a wonderful gift your DS gave you.

 

[paigevz]

Nice.

 

[HERSEY]

Isn't it wonderful to know all those sleepless nights were worth it? It sounds like you have a wonderful relationship with your son. It's definitely worth knowing there's light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[NMAmy]

As the mom of a teenage girl with whom I've been having those difficult times--it's great to see there is hope for them!

What a sweet letter and a great kid. Congrats!

 

[snappy]

Beautiful letter.

Thanks for sharing and brightening up her day.

 

[Mishetta]

What a beautiful tribute to you & your DH Minkydog!

I too have a very troublesome DS (11). We're currently in counseling....as a last resort. I will keep the faith that one day, I too, will receive such a beautiful blessing as you received.

Job well done!