Child, You Are Loved

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Child, You are loved. 

Your mother loves You, 

but she has a lot on her plate right now. 

She’s taking care of Your father--

a man who is sick with cancer, 

and who is abusive toward 

her, You, and your other family members. 

She is doing the best she can right now, 

and she loves You. 

She loves You so much that 

she asks Your grandparents for help-- 

to pick You up from the bus stop,

to make You dinner after school, 

to help You with your spelling words, 

She loves You so much that 

she fills Your father’s absence with activities,

clarinet, gymnastics, 

and loved ones,

cousins, aunts, uncles, godparents.

She loves You so much that 

she tells him it’s wrong

if it happens in front of You-- 

even if it triggers an evening-long argument,

even if it compromises her safety. 

Child, You are loved.

~

Adult, You are loved. 

Your mother still loves You, 

and she has less on her plate right now. 

She’s no longer taking care of Your father-- 

a man who left, 

a man who was abusive, 

a man she was brave enough to divorce. 

That was no small task, 

and she is strong.

She loves You so much that 

she still asks Your grandparents for help--  

to accompany You when You buy your first car,

to make You rice pudding on your birthday,

to call You when you’re sad.

She loves You so much that 

she supports Your mental health treatment, 

talks to You on the phone for hours,

mails packages filled with Your favorite snacks, 

and visits when she has the chance.  

She loves You so much that 

she continues to fill Your father’s absence with activities, 

loved ones, 

and a kinder stepfather

to love You so much, too. 

She loves You so much that 

she refuses to compromise her safety any longer, 

and she continues to remind You that he was wrong,

even though it happened to You,

because it also happened to Her.

Adult, You are loved.