To my mother.
You love the fact I give you thoughtful gifts, you boast to your friends in your assisted living facilities that I buy you flowers most weeks, that either myself or my children come over every couple of days, that I organise your finances, look after you so well.
They don't know that I disliked you most of my life, that you once told me you regretted having children, we ruined your life, how you laughed any time anything bad happened in my life, you actively tried to stop anything that improved my life, refused to help when I was a single parent, you were jealous that I had escaped an abusive relationship.
With age, in my 40's, I realised you were trapped in your life. You wanted to travel, to be free, your mother, my grandmother, was horrible to you, but she loved me, you have lived your life full of regrets, you are old, you wish your life was different, and I understand, I am kind to you, as I know you made me stronger, I appreciate every part of my life, I regret nothing, because you have made me appreciate how much our one life we are given means, I have passed that to my children, ONE LIFE, I enjoy it. I will never be the person filled with hatred or regrets.
I will take you out, I will buy you lovely flowers, and I do love you now, I appreciate you, I know you never will appreciate me or my sisters, but your neglect, lack of caring and determination that I could not better myself had the opposite effect, I am successful, my children are happy adults, I have a lovely partner. My card thanks you, as does my flowers, my present and me taking you out for a lovely day, all of which you will tell your friends it is because you were a loving mother, and you believe that. Xx
My kids don't do mothers day, my son tidied my downstairs this morning, walked my dogs and visited my mum, my daughter is coming up to go for a nice lunch and do a rubbish dump run with stuff in the garage tomorrow, no cards, that's good enough for me.