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“It’s not the happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” – Unknown
So how do you live a happy life? One key to happiness is to express gratitude. So today, we encourage you to express gratitude to your mom.
Some of you might face this task with enthusiasm because your heart glows when you think about the woman who brought you into this world. However, on the other end of the spectrum, some of you may have serious struggles with your mother. And expressing gratitude to your mom may feel far from natural.
This article is for everyone. It’s for those close to their mothers and those who have strained relationships with their moms. It’s for those who have living mothers and those whose mothers have passed. It’s for those with step-moms, adoptive moms, foster moms, and multiple moms.
So let’s think about expressing gratitude to our wonderful, complex, crazy, controlling, loving, emotional moms so that they can live a happier life, and we can live a happier one as well.
For our purposes, a letter of gratitude is a letter one writes that expresses appreciation. It can be hand-written or emailed, short or long.
Regardless of how you write it or how long it is, we encourage you to share it with your mom. This letter might be something that your mom keeps forever, and you may find it tucked away in her treasured possessions after she passes.
What should you write about when writing a letter of appreciation or gratitude to your mom? Of course, that depends on your unique situation. But here are some general ideas to help get you started writing your letter of thanks.
We hope that this list has spurred some positive memories of your mom. You may not have something to write about in each category we provided, but we hope this will help you develop ideas that reflect your unique situation.
Once you have decided that you need to write a letter of gratitude to your mom, get started! There’s no time like the present to thank someone for their vital role in your life.
You might be a little rusty if you haven’t written anything since Comp I. So here are some steps to help you get started writing your letter.
Have a brainstorming session and write down all the good things about your mom. Don’t worry about organizing your thoughts. Have no concern for spelling and grammar. Instead, write down words and memories that remind you of your mom.
Not-so-great memories or thoughts may creep in as you think of your mom. However, this may not be the appropriate composition to address such matters.
Look at your brainstorming list. Do any specific memories or characteristics stand out for you? Do you see a natural way to organize your thoughts into a coherent message?
For example, maybe you feel that your mom is funny, inspiring, and challenges you to be the best you can be. If so, name these qualities and share specific examples of how she shows them.
Perhaps your list details how your mom has helped you throughout your life. If so, you might organize your thoughts in chronological order.
You might be writing a letter of gratitude because you are inspired by a recent event, such as a graduation, wedding, or vacation. Maybe you feel encouraged to tell others how you feel following a health crisis. If so, that event may be the centerpiece of your letter of gratitude.
If you feel overwhelmed by the previous steps, simply write! Sit at your computer or in front of a sheet of paper and compose your letter.
Some may feel anxious writing because the composition has never “been your thing.” However, you must realize that most moms would be thrilled to receive a letter of gratitude. So don’t let writing anxiety keep you from completing this loving act.
Your delivery may be as easy as pressing send on a text or email. However, it might be best to write your message by hand. Regardless of how you record your thoughts, think about how you will share the letter.
Maybe you could mail it to your mom. Think about how happy your mom will be to receive a note from you in the mail mixed in with credit card applications and bills.
You might also leave the note somewhere your mother will find it if you are too embarrassed for her to read it while you are present.
Some of you might want to be present to see the joy that your letter inspires, so you want to be there when your mom reads it. If that’s the case, you might want to read the letter to her!
Are you staring at the flashing cursor on your computer screen, unsure how to get started on your letter of gratitude ? We want to help by showing you some examples. But don’t take the easy route! These examples may sum up what you are trying to say, but it would be better if you thanked your parents using your own words!
Here are some snippets of gratitude letters to inspire you.
1. Thanks for being so great around my friends. You always made them feel so comfortable and welcomed at home. And you took the time to get to know them. My friends always tell me how lucky I am to have you as a mom – and I agree!
2. I’m sorry for causing you so much stress over the last few years. I know I haven’t always made the best choices, and I have yelled at you when you have tried to encourage me down a different path. I’m sorry. You were right, and I promise to be better.
3. Mom, I can’t believe it has been six years since you have passed. I thought that grief was supposed to get easier over time, but I still miss you every day. I want to let you know – wherever you are – that I feel so incredibly blessed that you were my mom. You were a wonderful, kind, warm-hearted, caring mother, and you loved us all so much. I hope you know how much we loved you too.
4. Thanks for being a great mommy! You are fun to be around, and I like it when you sing to me and rub my back when I go to sleep at night.
5. I never thought mother-in-law jokes were funny –maybe because I have never connected with them. While there probably are bossy, judgemental mothers-in-law, I have one that is kind, caring, open-minded, and encouraging. And, yes, I know how lucky I am.
6. I put off writing this thank you note until the last because I knew that this one would take some time. Thank you, Mom, for helping me plan, organize, and pay for our beautiful wedding. It really was like one out of a fairy tale, and I felt like a princess all day!
From hosting the wedding shower to helping fund our honeymoon, you have truly gone above and beyond to make sure everyone had a wonderful time.
But besides all of that planning and organizing, you kept me sane through it all. Your calming presence was what I needed when the caterers backed out at the last minute. When you are around, I know that everything will be alright.
7. I know I have only been living here for a few months, but I wanted to thank you for being such a great foster mom. You made me feel welcomed and loved the moment I walked into your house. Thanks for giving me such a comfortable place to live.
8. Mom, I’ve been thinking a lot about my childhood lately, and I wanted to let you know how much I treasure those memories. I know we didn’t have much money back then, but I never felt like I missed out on anything.
Summers were filled with trips to the pool, catching fireflies in the backyard, and getting 39-cent ice cream cones at the gas station.
I remember going to the library, checking out a massive stack of books, and having a reading party in the hammock. I remember stargazing, late-evening walks, and Friday night trips to the drive-in movies.
Thanks for creating such a picture-perfect childhood for me.
9. I know that kids discover that their parents aren’t perfect at some point. However, you are close enough to perfect for me. Thanks for being a great mom!
10. Thanks for working so hard to put food on the table. I know things weren’t easy for you. I know that you sacrificed a lot. I just want to say that I appreciate all you have done for us.
I remember how much I wanted new basketball shoes for my seventh-grade season. Instead of buying them at the second-hand store, you worked an extra shift to buy me new ones. I probably never thanked you for that.
Are you looking for other ways to show gratitude to your mom or someone you love? Why not complete a task for someone or make them a special dinner? Maybe you could spend quality time with your mom and share a special moment over a glass of iced tea on the deck.
While acts of kindness make people feel good, don’t overlook the importance of telling someone how you feel – either by writing a letter or speaking to them directly.
