I never realized how essential the bond between a mother and her child is until I had you.
The bond we share is so powerful and unique, I cherish it with all my heart and soul. It sets you up for future relationships and shapes your identity, self-worth, and how you see the world. It influences your emotions, smile, gestures, voice, and taste.
Our beautiful bond is at the headwaters of almost every aspect of your life, and one day, you will be able to pass it on to your own children. I am conscious of the amount of influence I hold on you. I am also aware of the fact that I am not perfect and will probably make a lot of mistakes along the way, but there are some things I will always do to make sure I keep our bond strong.
1- Active listening:
I am always listening, even when you tell the same stories a thousand times.
What matters to you, matters to me too, so I put my phone away, look into your eyes and listen.
Sometimes I ask you open-ended questions to explore that beautiful mind of yours. I often have to resist the urge to rush into giving you advice, and I am grateful for the opportunities we have to discuss things as they come up.
2- Love what matters to you:
I learn to enjoy all those things you love. I enter your world and follow your lead when we play, which allows me to see you from a new perspective every single time.
3- Give you opportunities to make choices:
You look to me for guidance and values my opinions, and I am always there to hold your hand and cheer you on. Although I am very protective of you and sometimes feel the urge to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, I value your opinion and learn from you too. Letting you make your own decisions helps you build your sense of responsibility, and allows you to make mistakes and learn from them.
4- Empathise:
When you are sad or upset, I put my feelings and reactions aside to see the situation through your eyes. Without judgment or jumping to conclusions, I always try to acknowledge your emotions with empathy.
With all that said, I treasure the bond we have today, and I can’t wait to see it grow and evolve as you move into adulthood and become a strong independent woman.
CELESTINE 