For Mommy

My 4-year-old son wanted to write a special message to his mommy for Mother's Day, so he dictated his thoughts to me and I wrote them down as follows:

Mommy, I love you very much for Mother's Day. I love you every day because I always want to be happy, and you always make me happy.

When I was first born in the hospital, I was a little bit scared. The doctor was really scary with that scary mask, and his hands were really, really cold. But then he gave me to you, Mommy. And I was really, really happy.

Sometimes I'm a little bit sad. But then you give me juice boxes or Scooby-Doo fruit snacks or toys. Remember that one time when you took me to Chuck E. Cheese's pizza? And remember when you gave me birthday parties? When I'm sad, you always make me happy.

I was a little scared when I first went to school. I didn't have any friends there. But you kissed me and said that you loved me, Mommy. And that made me really, really happy. So I wasn't scared anymore.

I wasn't scared the one time when that big white dog kept licking my face with his scratchy tongue. But you were scared of the dog, and I said, "It's okay, Mommy. He's not scary." But you were still scared, so I held your hand and you said you loved me. Remember I said that I loved you, too? Were you still scared when I told you that?

I love when you and me cuddle on the couch under my race car blanket and we watch the "big truck" movie together. Remember how I used to hate when the big dump-dump truck dumped all that trash in the mud? I used to think it made the TV screen really yucky and I didn't want you to have to clean all that dirt off the TV because that would make me a little bit sad. But then you told me it wasn't real dirt and that it was fake dirt in the TV, so I was happy again.

When I had nightmares when I was a baby, you always rocked me and sang me songs. That always made me happy again. I love how you always sing me the "Goodnight, Baby" song every night because sometimes I'm sad because it's bedtime and not playtime anymore. I feel really, really happy when you sing to me.

I was really scared that one time we were in the car and that guy in the other car crashed into us. I think you were scared, too, but you checked on me and then I was happy again. Remember how we got a new car while our car was at the car doctor? That was really, really fun in that new car. And then we got our car back and you said it would be all better and it was all better.

I'm really sorry about that one time a long, long time ago when I ran away from you in the grocery store. I was really excited and happy, but then you got really, really mad at me and you weren't happy at me anymore. I asked how come you weren't happy at me and you said you were mad because I was being a bad boy. And then I wasn't happy anymore. I was so mad at myself. I was so sorry.

So for Mother's Day I'm going to make you happy, Mommy. I'm going to be really, really good and never ever run away ever, ever again so you won't get mad because I love you, Mommy. And I'm going to give you hugs and kisses forever. And I'm going to smile at you all the time.

And then I'll be happy.

Happy Mother's Day!

E-mail Michael Picarella at michael.picarella@gmail.com. To read more of his stories, go to http://michaelpicarellacolumn.blogspot.com.