My grandmother died when my mother was 4 years old. My grandfather had been blind before that and wasn't much of a caretaker to my mom and her other 9 siblings. As a result she, my aunt and 2 other uncles were shipped to my great aunt's house. The others were old enough to fend for themselves. I think my mother wanted to make sure that her presence was felt in our lives as much as her mother's was missed from hers.

We both have been very honest with each other. It's hard to not be when I tell her everything. (Well mostly). The things I don't tell my mother are the thngs I know she would take care of and not ask me what I want. If I had told her at 16 that my then boyfriend had cheated on me, I know that she would have resorted to finding him and dealing with him (Not that it happened but just an example lol). She has been there for me in my weakest of moments and I think so have I. We have spent a lot of time together. My cousins used to say I was her hip. Her co workers still say I am.

Don't get me wrong. We have had our share of misunderstandings. One time she decided to embarrass me in high school for some shoes. She still doesn't understand that my medication controls me a lot of times and that I can't help it. She sometimes doesn't understand that I am 29 yrs old and not her 16 yr old. We argue and make up. But we do understand that we can say how we feel about things and though we may not agree we have enough respect to understand.

I would not be who and where I am without her. I am truly happy that I have taken from her the respect, honest, courtesy that she has taught over the years. I cherish our relationship tremendously. Words cannot cover how I feel. I pray that our relationship continues in the same vein it has been going in and that one day I would be able to return the actions to my mother as she has done for me. I love you!!