To My First Love, My Mama

By Maraiah Victoria Morales

First love isn’t solely the first experience of romantic love. In my

case, my family made me feel love. It was my Mama, the person who
first taught me how true love felt.

Dear Mama,

How could you still keep up with me? It's unbelievable. I know,
being a mom has never been easy, as it can be tough to raise me.
You’ve always put my happiness and well-being before your own.
You've cared and have been there for me for 15 years and I cannot
thank you enough. You have always been there to offer your advice and
your comforting shoulder to cry on. You have always been my best
friend. You have sacrificed so much in order to give me a better life than
you had when you were a kid. You pushed me to be the best version of
myself.

I remember those times you said "I love you" to me. You told me
that love was something that you feel for a person that you truly care
about. At first, I didn't understand what love was until you showed me,
and there, a young naive girl, knew that she felt love for her mother. As
time went by, people were sharing who there first love was and how
they met and of course, I was also wondering who mine was. As I got
older, I was able to understand that there are different kinds of love. You
were the first one I knew that I loved.

Looking back on those times I hurt you, I was regretful and filled
with guilt. Whenever you would rectify me, I would always think, "Why is
she my mother?" It was not an accident that you were my mom. You
were suited to handle me. Perhaps, it is easier for me to take out my
frustrations at you because I knew that you would understand me. I

 admit, there was a period in my life that I neglected the thought that you
loved me because I was so blinded by anger and selfishness for all the
times you scolded me. Now, I know it was for my own good. Those
episodes of my life helped me grow more and more as a person that
you wanted me to be.

Thank you for showing me grace and seeing the goodness in

me even if I do not deserve it. Thank you for standing by my side
everyday, for believing in me, and for loving me. I feel truly blessed to
be your daughter. No words can express my feelings right now, I just
want to simply say… I love you so much, Mama.

Sincerely,
Aia