Mom, I know you loved me, even if it didn’t always feel soft or safe. You gave what you could, but I needed more—comfort, emotional connection, and to feel held without having to earn it. Now that I’m a mom, I see how easy it is to repeat what we grew up with. But I’m choosing differently—not out of blame, but out of love. I want my kids to feel seen and safe in ways I didn’t always. This isn’t about rewriting the past—it’s about healing it, for me, for them, and maybe even a little for you.