14/11/2022
So beautiful
A love letter from a child to a parent…
Thank you for loving me
When I was most difficult to love
Thank you for showing up for me
When it was most hard to reach me
Thank you for believing in me
When I didn’t believe in myself
Thank you for supporting me
When I felt unsupported by the world
Thank you for reassuring me
When I appeared inconsolable
Thank you for your words of wisdom and advice
Even when they were tough to hear
Thank you for always wanting what was best for me
Regardless of the circumstances
And thank you for always being there for me
Even when it felt like I didn’t appreciate or see
Everything you did for me.
As I have grown
I have come to appreciate the many sacrifices you made
To build a better future for me
All of the love you gave me
All of the sleepless nights
All of the mundane moments and milestones you were there to witness and experience
And everything in-between
All of the concerts, sporting events and ceremonies you attended
Beaming proudly
All of the photos you took, the memories we made and special times we shared
And all of the precious moments that you spent with me.
As I have grown
I can now better appreciate
How strong you were for me:
The tears you held back
And the smile you wore
So that I wouldn’t see how much you were secretly struggling at times behind the scenes
And now having left home
I can now appreciate
All you have truly done for me.
Thank you for doing the best you could
Thank you for continuing to be an incredible presence in my life
And above all
Thank you for always seeing the best in me
And loving me
And though I am now fully grown
I will always be your little child
And when I go on to one day have a family of my own
I hope that I can make you proud
By being half the parent
That you were to me.
Words by Tahlia Hunter
Artwork by Katie m. Berggren