A young woman in her early 20s was sitting on the floor at the drugstore studying four Mother’s Day cards spread in front of her. A lot of thought was going in to finding just the right card. It reminded me of the varied cards I gave to my own mother over the years:

deer mom, I luv u XOXO

Dear mom, you ar the bestest MOM in the werld. thankx for making cookees and birfday caks. do you lik the rozis?

Dear Mom, you cook and cleen and hardly ever yell at us. Happy mother’s day.

Dear Mom, If they had a Best Mom contest you would win. Thanks for letting us get a dog and not getting mad when he wets on the sofa.

Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day. You work so hard taking care of all of us. I hope you have the most relaxing day ever. Can I have a friend spend the night?

Dear Mom, Roses are red, Violets are blue, Other moms let their girls get their ears pierced, Why won’t you? Happy Mother’s Day!

Dear Mom, I’m sorry we argue. I don’t mean to be sassy, the words just come out sometimes. Thanks for not giving up on me. Even though it might not seem like it, I’m glad you’re my mom.

Dear Mom, Sorry I can’t be home for Mother’s Day, finals are almost finished. I will be home for the summer in another week. I hope you liked the necklace. Thanks for taking the pressure off by saying education is your and Dad’s gift to me. I’m sending out resumes — hope someone is hiring!

Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day. Who knew I’d be living so far away? Just when I finally mature and become a reasonably pleasant human being, I wind up moving to the other side of the country. Looking forward to when you and Dad come out this summer.

Dear Mom, Guess we didn’t think about the wedding being so close to Mother’s Day. Thanks for not minding. Everything was beautiful. I can’t believe all the planning you did. No daughter could have asked for anything more.

Dear Mom, Your Mother’s Day gift is sitting on the kitchen table, that is unless the kids have ripped into it. Haven’t had time to get to the post office. Potty training is in full swing. House smells like urine. Made another trip to the ER last week with guess who. He should get the cast off in six weeks. Gotta go, the baby’s crying.

Dear Mom, Happy Mother’s Day. Were your ears burning? We said by the time we’re through the teen years with this mob we’re going to build a shrine to you and light candles every day. We’re thrilled you’re coming for high school graduation. The flowers were lovely, but I’m the one who should be sending flowers to you.

Dear Mom, How often I look at the kitchen table and see you sitting there, drinking a cup of coffee, catching me up on all the news. Hard to believe how the years have flown. The kids are grown now and having kids of their own. You’d be so proud. I wish you were here so I could say it again — thanks. And I love you. You will always live in my heart. Forever yours.