I was born in fire, but you were my rain

To my children, the calm after the storm.

My heart, my soul, my life.

My world as a child was hellfire with breezes of love and sprinkles of kindness.

In a whirlwind, I was born fighting things for which I had no words.

I held my hands over my ears, drowning out the chaos before I could walk.

To this day, yelling sends me back to that war zone.

I believed everything was my fault, and I had to fix what I never broke. That’s when I named the madness daemons that live in my head.

With words that cut so deep, I still loved those two people who didn’t let me sleep.

I saw in their eyes who they wanted to be, and I saw kids who were too weak to speak and communicate their needs.

I always tried to be good, but sadness devoured me inside.

I found escape in books, playing make-believe, and companionship with animals. Mother Earth gave me what people could not.

I pushed everything down inside my emotions, and I will hide. I thought that was being strong.

Dying inside, walking alone, never asking for help.

Years of fighting, beatings, harsh words. I told them that it would end with me. I will break this toxic cycle you call family.

I met a man who changed my life and gave me everything. Three pieces of me.

My heart, my soul, my life.

I will give you what I once dreamed of. Gentle hands, soft words, and love that never fails. Just pure sweet unconditional love.

You are my healing, my reason to rise again and again. For all the battles I fought and all the storms I walked through, you were the rain and sunshine that let me bloom.

I can still hear your little voices. I love you to the moon and back, and I replied infinity and beyond. You three are the best of me.

Forever yours, Mom