Ivy Hearts

“I still remember walking you to your first day of school with a backpack bigger than you. Today you walked across that stage on your own, and you looked like you belonged there.”

“While most people are wrapping presents, you will be taking care of strangers. Somewhere a family will have a better Christmas because you were there.”

“I fell asleep in the chair again on Sunday and woke up under a blanket. You did not mention it at breakfast and you have never mentioned it once.”

“You give every student a clean slate every single morning. It is one of the things I love most about you, and you give it to me too.”

“I had a key to your house long before anybody discussed whether that was sensible. It was simply on the hook one day and nobody ever said a word about it afterwards.”

“You have always wrapped your presents better than I ever could. This one may have a little too much tape, but it comes with all my love.”

“The day our baby was born, a mother was born too. And she is every bit as wonderful as I knew she would be.”

“People talk about this as if it is one enormous feeling that arrives once. Mine is a thousand small ones, handed over on ordinary days, still arriving.”

“I used to think love was the rush at the start, and I was wrong. Love is still wanting to tell you about my day after all these years.”

“I know how many early mornings and late nights went into this diploma. It is not just a piece of paper. It is proof of who you are.”

“I hope the first dinner you cook in your new kitchen turns out great. And if it does not, there is always pizza, and there is always me.”

“I bet you get another teacher mug this Christmas, and that is fine. Every one of them means a kid who wanted to say thank you.”

“In a few hours I have to walk you up there and then let go of your arm in front of everyone. I have been practicing that second part all week and I am not any better at it.”

“Nobody else has ever been quite so pleased to see me come through a door. The coffee was on before I had even got my coat off, every single time.”

“I have seen some beautiful places, but the one I look for first is still you. Especially first thing in the morning, before the coffee has kicked in.”

“If fate whispers to you 'you can't withstand the storm,' whisper back 'I am the storm.' You will always be my baby girl. You are stronger than any challenge that comes your way.”

“The day our two lives came together, my heart stopped being mine alone. Two hearts joined as one, and I would choose you in every life.”

“You turned up long after I had stopped expecting this family to produce any. And you have been the best thing to happen to all of us in a good many years.”

“I know we are both tired, and I know it has been a long road. But I can see better days coming, and I cannot wait to spend them with you.”

“Your hugs have fixed more scraped knees and bad days than any medicine. Our kids are so lucky to grow up wrapped in that kind of love.”

“Wherever you are and whatever time it is, you can always call me. It does not matter if it is big news, bad news or no news at all.”

“You have been a mother for only a little while, and you look like you were born for it. The way you hold and soothe this little one takes my breath away.”

“We met in one very loud week and somehow managed to get it completely right. Years on, the house has changed hands twice and we have not changed at all.”

“Tonight we are going to dinner wherever you want, no matter how fancy it is. Order dessert first if you like. It is your day, and you make the rules.”