A Tribute
Ya know, as life marches forward and the older I get, the more I understand and appreciate the dedication and resilience of my own mother. As long as I can remember, Mother’s Day has been special in our home. The unwavering commitment and tireless devotion that lady has shown for her family is selfless and humbling. The hardships she has seen in her life have helped shape her character and transform her into an even more compassionate and benevolent person.
It’s a given that each Mother’s Day warrants that sweet card or special dinner to show how much we are thankful for her. However, my appreciation for her was made even more evident after our children were born. This magnified the diligence and perseverance of my mother, as well as other traits that it takes to be a good and loving parent. My gratitude grows and my admiration swells with each passing day. My mother was the glue that kept our family together. I have learned so much from her, and I apply this knowledge in my everyday life. It is difficult to articulate all of my feelings.
Mama, just know that I love you more every single day.
On such a day as Mother’s Day, it’s not just my mom that I am grateful for. My appreciation and respect goes out to ALL of the mothers. The BIRTHmothers, the SURROGATE mothers, the FOSTER mothers, the STEP-mothers, the EXPECTANT mothers, the HOPEFUL mothers, the SINGLE mothers, and the MARRIED mothers. You all are the dream makers and hope givers. The life changers and the tribe builders. You are the selfless heroines that bring the sparkle of new life to families everywhere. You are the beacons of hope that illuminates the darkness with light shining brighter than a million candles. On a more personal note, as a gay father I am able to have my family because of you. Our two beautiful and energetic girls have brought new life and happiness into our hearts, home and lives.
To the birthmothers of our daughters as well as all birthmothers, we can only begin to imagine the difficult thought process behind making that incredibly hard decision. Adoption is the most altruistic and selfless choice any woman could make. We are grateful to you every day of our lives, and although you do not see them often please know, we see your faces as we look into our daughters eyes. And as they get older, we can see it even more in their smiles. The independent and strong willed nature of both our girls is an undeniable attribute that was obviously passed down from you.
We want you to know that we strive to be better daddies every single day. We love these girls more with every minute that passes. We are eternally grateful to you for the rest of our lives. Thank you for choosing us. And thank you for allowing us to be the fathers we have always prayed to be.
With all our love on this Mothers Day,
Erik & Douglas Alexander
