'I love you' was the last thing I said to her. Mom, I hope I made you proud.

USA Today

11-05-2025

'I love you' was the last thing I said to her. Mom, I hope I made you proud. | Your Turn Mother's Day brings with it an array of emotions, for moms and children alike. USA TODAY Forum participants share stories of their relationships with their mothers below.
In Mexico, Día de las Madres is celebrated every year on May 10. In the United Kingdom, Mothering Sunday lands on the fourth Sunday of Lent. And in Russia, moms get their day on the last Sunday in November. But in the United States (and our neighbor to the north, Canada) we spend the second Sunday in May honoring the first women any of us knew in this world: Our mothers.
Mother's Day began as a day of peace and has since morphed into a lucrative retail holiday, celebrating the moms and caregivers who raised and supported us and our children. But for many this holiday brings with it an array of emotions. Some are grieving mothers they've lost or never knew. Some are navigating strained, fractured or silent relationships. Many are mothered by a person who did not give birth to them, and may not even know their birth mother.
And for many moms themselves, the day can be anything but a respite. Families come in many forms, each with their own unique joys, traditions and trauma. This Mother's Day, we asked USA TODAY Forum participants to share memories of mom – to let us peek into their relationships. Readers from across the country responded, sending letters to the women in their life, often of words left unsaid. Read a collection of their responses below, and visit usatoday.com/forum to take part in our next installment.
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To my mom, who showed me the power of love that spans generations
Mother's Day means so much more than anything a person can articulate. It's a feeling, it's a relationship, it's a blessing. This Mother's Day, I want to share with my mom, Genise Titak, just how appreciated she is. I want her to know I see her, I resonate with her ‒ I am her.
Growing up, I was glued to you, Mom. Often, people would joke that we were attached at the hip. You gave me the attention and compassion that I craved while giving me the freedom to become my own. Your fierce protection sheltered me from the evils of this world, and I see now just how much of a challenge that can be. Growing up, for me you were warm, kind and always had the most forgiving heart. I watched you mother other people's children, and I always knew it would be a gift to share you with my kids someday.
When it was time for me to become a mother, you were there. You held my hand through every stage of motherhood and gave me the best guide of all: showing me what a mother can conquer. You single-handedly demonstrated that a mother could overcome all obstacles. You may not realize that by doing this, you helped me to become the best mother I could be. You continued to be the best friend a daughter can ask for. With you beside me, I began to learn that love between mother and child is untethered and untouchable.
Now, I see you in my daughter's eyes. In every tear and touch of my daughter's hand, I see your soul. I knew that one day I would have to share my mom with my babies, but I didn't realize that day would be so heartwarming. Most days, I get the feeling you love my son and daughter more than me, and then I remember that is the greatest joy I can receive, to be able to experience the kind of love that spans generations.
I want to thank you, Mom, for being present, for being a shadow of my soul and for never letting me forget the power of a mother.
— Ariel Mitsch, Lowell, Indiana
The last thing I told my mother
It's certainly not a favorite memory. In April 1970, I was called out of my high school class to report to the office. When I got to the office, I was told there was an emergency at home. All the school administration knew I lived a half-block away from the school.
I ran as fast as I could to my home. I was greeted by firemen and was told not to go into the house, saying, "You don't want to see your mother like that." She had had a massive heart attack and died. My Mother was 51 years old, and I was 15. It was and still is one of the most painful days of my life.
I am now 70 years old, and I still miss her very much. The one positive memory of that day, as I was leaving to go to school, I kissed her and said, "I love you." Those were my last words to her.
Mom: I still love you and miss you very much. I hope I've made you and Dad proud of my accomplishments and my life.
— Jay Wilson, Martinsville, Virginia
Mothers' love may not make headlines, but it changes the world
Mothers are a great gift from God. Mother's Day should not be limited to just one day a year ‒ every day is Mother's Day. Mothers are always there when you need them. They are loving, caring and kind. They give life lessons and moral guidance to us.
There is a saying of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him): 'Paradise lies under the feet of the mother.' This profound truth reflects the unmatched respect and honor granted to mothers, not just as a key to spiritual life but also as a foundation for building a just and compassionate society.
Mothers play an irreplaceable role in shaping who we become. They are often the first to believe in us and the last to give up on us. Their sacrifices might go unnoticed, but their impact resonates in every success, every step forward we take. Their love might not make headlines, but it quietly changes the world ‒ one child at a time.
By showing love and respect to our mothers, we can help create a social paradise in this world ‒ one built on care, dignity and gratitude.
On this Mother's Day, let us celebrate that sacred, lifelong connection that truly lasts forever.
— Hamida Ahmed, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
To my stepmother, who I hope is in the 'library in the sky'
My mom frequently said she doesn't think she was always a good mother. I see things differently now.
After my parents divorced, my mom moved back to South Carolina. We moved into the house my grandfather built. There was no air conditioning, so my sister and I opened the refrigerator to get cool. My mom renovated the house, got a job and enrolled in graduate school. I often complained she was no fun, and she would explain that a woman had to work hard, as it was still a man's world. When I watched her study every night, I learned about the importance of an education.
Even though I never got along with my stepmother, I have much respect for her now. She used to take me to the library in New Hyde Park, New York, and she introduced me to E.B. White and other great writers. My stepmother passed away during COVID-19 because of lung cancer. In addition to leading me to great reads, she always encouraged my creative endeavors. It's interesting how time has changed my perspective.
I miss her now. If I could today, I would thank her for her humor and for giving me a different way of looking at the world, and for sharing her love of the written word. She once referred to the afterlife as 'the library in the sky." That's where I like to think she is now.
— Meta Griffin, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Imagining a world where everyone had a mom like mine
I just turned 66, and I am one of the few people I know who still has a healthy and sound mother. I came into her life when she was just 18 years old. She later had more children, many more. We were a blended family of seven children.
My mother is cherished by all of her children. She has managed to make us all feel valued and loved to this day.
She is my very best friend. If only every child could have a good mother who they knew loved them and had their back. What a world that would be.
— Carrie Ella Hawkins, Davis, West Virginia
From throwing the perfect party to walking with faith, you taught me so much
To my mom, Patty: Thank you for being my go-to, my sounding board, my guiding star and my lifelong friend. I can't imagine where I'd be without you. Thank you for always stepping up for me, for our family and for so many others.
Because of you, I grew up understanding what grace, hard work and accountability truly look like. You showed me what it means to be a 'doer,' and I can still hear your voice in my head reminding me that 'God helps those who help themselves.'
But your lessons went far beyond just the practical ‒ you also made sure I knew how to throw a great party, how to dress for success and how to walk through life with faith.
She and my dad, Larry, raised two strong, independent daughters, and together they've played an incredible role in the lives of all their grandsons, too ‒ a gift you can't quantify.
I've always been grateful to be her daughter ‒ and I still am, every single day. She's simply the best.
— Kara Hobza, La Vista, Nevada
I don't say it enough, so I'll say it today
One Mother's Day, my mom gave me 15 gifts for the 15 years I had been a mother. She has always showered me and my children with beautiful cards and gifts for every calendar holiday!
To my mom, Vanessa White: You are the person who brought me into this world and every single day of it, you have been by my side. You are the epitome of a mother who loves her child. I am exceptionally blessed to have you in my life. I want to thank you for everything. I don't say it enough, so today I will, just in time for the holiday that is made just for you. I love you wholeheartedly, and I am very proud to call you MY mom!
— Ashley Leonard, Memphis, Tennessee