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Nicole L. V. Mullis: An apology is owed on Mother's Day

Battle Creek Enquirer, May 11, 2008

Dear Mom,

I tried to find the perfect Mother's Day card but nothing caught my eye. After spending 11 years stumbling in your footsteps, I feel those sugary poems don't do this job justice. Since I care enough to send the very best, I am giving you what you surely deserve — an apology.

1. I'm sorry for ages 13-21 and the near-decade of pseudo-omnipotence that went with them.

2. I'm sorry for crashing the van when I was 16 and then accusing you of "overreacting" when you threatened to take my permit.

3. I'm sorry for the 11 traffic tickets I earned during my tenure on your insurance policy.

4. I'm sorry for every time you heard me say, "You don't understand!"

5. I'm sorry for the sunburns, backaches and boredom you endured attending every one of my games, recitals and award ceremonies.

6. I'm sorry for the dozens of hot cookies and newly frosted cakes I burglarized when your back was turned.

7. I'm sorry for never crediting you as the magic behind Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

8. I'm sorry for the anxiety you experienced waiting for me to call or return home.

9. I'm sorry for never noticing our family vacations were massive overtime projects for you.

10. I'm sorry for assuming you could type a paper, wash my good pants, hem a costume or retrieve a book report on a moment's notice.

11. I'm sorry for thinking you were "just being mean" when you demanded to know "who, what, where, when, why and how" before letting me go out.

12. I'm sorry for accusing you of "not loving me" when you said no.

13. I'm sorry for thinking you had children just so they could clean the house for you. I now realize that a kid doing the dishes three times a week pales in comparison to the 24-hour maid service that is motherhood.

14. I'm sorry for the times I groaned over what you served for dinner, rolled my eyes when you were talking or slammed my bedroom door.

15. I'm sorry I took for granted the countless hours you spent as my personal Florence Nightingale. I never thanked you for nursing me through my childhood mishaps or holding my hand when I brought my own children into the world.

16. I'm sorry for all the good advice I disregarded. You were right about strapless dresses being more trouble than they're worth. You were right about the importance of prayer and you were right about that speed trap at M-59 and Highland Road.

17. I'm sorry for never noticing how many dreams you deferred so I could achieve my dreams.

18. I'm sorry for the times I pushed you past your breaking point and then had the nerve to ask, "Why are you so grumpy?"

19. I'm sorry for every stretch mark, burnt finger, premature wrinkle, stomach ulcer and tension headache you endured on my behalf.

20. I'm sorry for the times I asked for the car keys instead of asking how you were and rushed out the door without saying good-bye.

21. I'm sorry for limiting my show of gratitude to one Sunday in May. You deserve more than any card could ever say or any day could ever contain.

Nicole L.V. Mullis is a freelance writer.