Time flies, everyone says. 
It's frightening sometimes 
to look in the mirror and see 
the evidence of that. 
So often, we don't take a moment 
    to say what's in our hearts, 
and then, when it's too late, 
    we wish we had. 

I'm taking a moment now, Mom, 
to tell you this... 
When I was a child, there was 
so much I couldn't understand, 
like how hard you worked 
and how much you sacrificed 
    for our family. 

There were dreams you had
    to put on hold
and dreams that never came true.
You must have felt frustrated
    sometimes, no doubt,
and at times even full of despair. 
Yet you never gave less 
    than your best to us. 
You didn't have an exciting career 
    or beautiful clothes. 
You never traveled the world 
    or drove a fancy car. 
Every day, you looked after us, 
    worried about us, fed us, 
    and loved us, 
without expecting anything in return.

You see, Mom, I know now 
    and understand 
that you actually gave me two lives: 
my own... and yours.

I love you, Mom

From Tina