For my wonderful parents, on my mother’s birthday!

For my wonderful parents, on my mother’s birthday!

I wanted to share a thought with you two on this fine day about parenthood. It’s a short thought and one I cannot articulate to any satisfaction, but one that I’m sure you’ll be able to unravel and feel at least as strongly as I do.

That thought is this: I know now that you two love me to the point of heart-ache. You’ve told me so uncountable times in just as many ways, but I didn’t know how that felt until recently – until I recognized that the way I feel for Evette is certainly the way you feel for me.  

I’m learning more about this new feeling, this wonderful pain that is “parental-love-heartache.” I had no idea what debt of love I owed you – not debt of time, attention, education, protection, or material support (the normal things I might thank you for) – but the immense debt I owe simply for this welling feeling in your heart, for loving me as much as you do. And for as much as this feeling joyfully tears into my heart, I’m sure that I am only feeling a fraction of what your seasoned love must be.

I want to speak of repayment for that love but am at a loss. Evette repays my love with her sweetness, her cleverness, her earnest hugs, and her innocent kisses. I am sure there are things I do that bring such smiles to your face but am at a loss of how they might compensate for your love.

We all go on with our lives even though doing so makes such moments feel fleeting, half rejoicing in this feeling of love and half needing to proceed with life simply because it’s through life that these joys are felt. Thank you for striking the balance you have.

My heart thanks you. With love, your son forever,

Sean