She goes by so many names and has an impressive resume of skills bordering on magic powers, but the most common title she's known as, is simply: Mom.

She could make bad days go away with cookies and milk. She always knew to cut off the sandwich crusts without us having to ask. She could heal a skinned knee with as much kindness as mending a broken heart. There are a million and one ways she managed to make the day a little better, and she asked for nothing in return.

Even in our selfish times, when we would get angry and say things we didn't mean but would forever regret -- she always held her ground, and never held those regrettable things against us. Because she knew. She was there at one point of her life, and she understood. She taught us what it meant to take the high ground and pick one's battles. She knew the most important lessons we would have to learn for ourselves, and she would always be waiting with a tissue and a hug when the hard lessons were learned. 

Whether we were mighty kings and queens or feeling the weight of the world pressing down on us, she always looked at us the same, always proud. The love of a mother is a profound thing, and we are incredibly blessed to have experienced it in our own unique ways. With any luck, we will pass along this nurturing love to someone else. So this weekend, make sure to celebrate Mom for all the things she's done and the sacrifices she's made. And don't wait for just one part of the year, tell her as many times as you can how amazing she is, and how much you love her. Happy Mother's Day, Mom.   

Jaunty Fine Print: Illustration by Denise Sakaki

Consider this an open letter to Mom, as her special day is this upcoming Sunday. This Bird is long past the days of macaroni-strung necklaces and cards with a handprint on the front, but my heartfelt thoughts for Mom have never changed over the years.

To Mom: you didn't just bring me into this world, you helped attach meaning to it, so that I could begin to understand the importance of being a part of it. You helped me appreciate the process behind things and to truly earn the knowledge; to build something from one's own hands and take it from start to finish, whether it was a simple crafting project, or the building of a career. You gave balance to heartfelt emotion and pragmatic common sense, that there is a time for tears, but there is also a time for action. Failure is not mark of shame, merely a lesson to learn from and an encouragement to move forward.

Everything I have accomplished is as a result of your guidance and care. I know I never need to prove anything to you, that you will always be proud, but I will never lose the desire to achieve greater and better things, because they are a tribute to you. They are just a small measure of thanks for everything that you have done and the sacrifices you have made. While we don't live close to one another, we don't let the distance get in the way of being as close as when we lived under the same roof. Nothing will ever change the fact that we are family, but it is a rare gift to say that we are friends. I am thankful that you are the first person I want to share good news with, as well as the one I know to trust with my secrets. This is the greatest treasure I feel blessed with, more than all the riches in the world. I learned to love with the strength of a dozen hearts, because that is how much I love you.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom -- I hope you get a break today and sleep soundly knowing the kid is doing just fine.


Jaunty Fine Print:  photo by Denise Sakaki