THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 14, 1995 TAG: 9505130038
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 158 lines
THE QUESTIONS were simple:
``What do you think of when you think of your mother?''
``What does mom mean to you?''
``What is something you've always wanted to tell to your mother?
The answers were extraordinary.
The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star contacted several area schools and posed the questions to students of varying ages.
The sons and daughters couldn't wait to respond.
Moms were hailed as ``perpetual inspiration,'' ``the bestest cookie-maker,'' and the ``baddest'' around - ``she's so cool, she is no fool. She has an IQ, of 602.''
Mom, to a kindergartner at Southwestern Elementary in Suffolk, is a big red heart, walking around on purple legs, giving hugs with purple arms. First-graders at Alanton Elementary in Virginia Beach created a recipe book for their moms.
Stephan, a first-grader at Bayside Elementary in Virginia Beach, sketched a picture of his smiling woman on a baseball field. Below the green grass he wrote:
``My mother signed me up for baseball. She used all of her money and she never told me. I always wanted to play baseball. She never told me that she bought drinks and cookies for my team. That made me feel pretty terrific that my mom was so cool!!!''
Mary Burg at Princess Anne Middle School in Virginia Beach recognized her grandmother:
``Even though she is gone, I know she is in my heart and I know she is watching over me. Now I regret anything bad I did or said to my grandmother because it's hard to go on thinking that you're never going to get the chance to say you're sorry or goodbye . . . so for Mother's Day I want her to know that I love her.''
Students at Cox High School in Virginia Beach took on perhaps the toughest task - exposing thoughts or incidents they hadn't dared to reveal before.
The Cox students had a lot to say; several of their letters appear below. The writers capture Mother's Day as an occasion of respect and recognition, and also of reconciliation. A day of reflection on what it means to be a child and on what it means to be a mother.
Dear Mom,
I am so sorry for all the mean things I have ever said to you or about you, especially about my father. I know I have been accusing you of not loving him, but I know you really did. I realize you did all you could for him and I will never know how hard it must have been for you. I wish we could talk about him and share our memories of him like you want me to but I can't.
It just hurts too much.
It has been two years since he died and I still feel an emptiness inside me. We all loved him and he is someone we can never forget. He has left a lasting impression on all of us.
Love your daughter,
Raven
Dear Mom,
I wake up in the morning at 5 while you're still asleep in bed.
I go downstairs, eat my food, iron my clothes and get done in time. I have learned to do all this because you had to taught me to do this so I can survive in life. You have helped me out a lot and I thank you.
You worry too much. I can handle the world and be at the top. I will become a great scientist, and when I find the youth potion, I will give it to you so you can survive and worry about someone else other than me. I thank you for being there for me and convincing me to stay at the high standards you put for me.
Gracia pado todo tu seite para me,
Jose
Dear Mom,
I want to be totally honest even though this might be in the newspaper. But I don't care.
If I could I would let the whole world know how much I love you. Even though you have raised four kids, it seems like you always go that extra yard for me.
I feel like of all your sons, I've been the most trouble even though I'm the youngest. All school year I've been having trouble in school, and you have stayed there right by my side. I love you even more for that.
Love always,
Jah Jah
Dear Mom,
Over the years we have grown closer. You have become my best friend. I know we have our differences, but no matter how mad you are at me, you are always there to listen to me, help me and guide me. I don't know what I would do without you.
I think back to last year when I almost lost you to that horrible disease. That was and probably will be the hardest time in my life. It seemed like my whole world was just crashing in on me and there was nothing I could do. The doctors didn't think you would make it, but you believed you would and did.
I enjoy the times when we go out together, just mom and daughter. We go shopping and out to lunch or dinner. You tell me about how when you were my age, living in Vietnam and everything you went through. From being in a building that was being bombed in Vietnam to battling cancer twice here, Mom, you've been through it all.
You tell me I have it good here in my day and age in my world. I may not have always agreed with you, but I realize now how fortunate I am to be loved by you and have you as my mom.
I love you always,
Jody
Mom,
I'm sorry that I am so impossible. It seems that no matter how hard I try, I still mess things up. I know we are not the best of friends, but I wish someday we could be.
Happy Mother's Day,
Hunter
Mom,
I know we haven't been together in about six years, but I still want you to know I love you with all my heart and I can't wait to see you this summer. I hope we can make up for the time we lost.
I love you Mom!
Your son,
Michael
Dear Mom,
I want to thank you for bringing me into this world. I know the hard times you have gone through to get where you are now. I know people have looked down on you for getting married and having a child so young.
I was one of those people.
I used it against you when we fought. It was wrong and very selfish. It took a lot of courage to do what you did. To me, those hard times are accomplishments.
All of my life, I have looked up to you. I wish I could be like you. You're a leader, not a follower. I have come to you with my problems and you have helped me. If it weren't for you, I don't know where I would be right now.
I wish I could take back all the wrong things I have said or done to you. But I can't. So I'm telling you know that you mean everything to me. If I ever lost you, I would lose my world.
I know it doesn't sound like I mean it all the time but I really do love you. I do and always will.
Always and forever,
Jennifer
Dear Mother,
When I was born you accepted me and took care of me. As I grew you stood by me. When I fell off my bike you picked me up and helped me back on. As I learned to ride my bike I always cried back to you, ``Don't let go, don't let go!''
And you didn't.
Now I'm older and I can ride it by myself, along with being able to do other things. I tell you to let me go but deep down I'm hoping you won't. Just let a little loose. I need to learn from my own mistakes.
Lately, we've been fighting, but I don't mean what I say. Still we're working together to become the friends we were. I'm still telling you to let go, but I hope you won't.
Don't let me go forever, just a day at a time. If you let me go all at once, I'm afraid I'll fall again and you won't be there to help me up.
Don't let go, Mom.
I love you,
Angelica ILLUSTRATION: D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/Staff color photos
Cos High School freshman Jose Alvarez and his mother, Lidia.
Cox freshman Raven Pappas and her mother, Gaymarie.
by CNB