Mom, happy birthday to you!

Dear Mom, you forgot it was your birthday. Or at least you wanted to forget. I know your birthday makes you sad because Dad is no longer with us, but you are still alive. Your birthday still makes someone happy. Let us be your happiness. Let's celebrate your life and our life with you.

These words are dedicated to my mother who feels very bad about my father’s sudden death. We have always celebrated her birthday with a lot of joy and happiness and this year it makes her very sad. My sister and I feel the same, but we want to make her happy because she means a lot to us in life and we are happy to have her.

When her day started, I called her and wished her a happy birthday. She thanked me but told me not to mention the birthday and that she will never celebrate that day again. Although I said it was okay, I couldn't let her spend the day in tears.

I went with my son to the patisserie and we bought three little cakes. He found a candle from his fifth birthday with the number 5 and took it with him. We also needed a candle with the number 6 because it's my mother's 56th birthday, and unfortunately, we didn't find the number 6. But that doesn't matter. 😊

When we arrived, Mom wasn’t expecting us. She opened the door and my son started singing a birthday song. She cried but this time, not only because of sadness but because of mixed feelings. She was sad but at the same time happy to have us. My son was the driving force and energy at this point. He made this day beautiful despite the great sorrow. Children make life worth living. They are the light in the darkness that illuminates our way and does not allow us to stop moving forward.

My son could hardly wait to blow out the candle with my mother. My mom laughed when she saw candle number 5. I love to see her smiling.

When my sister came home from work, she suggested we all go to lunch at a nearby restaurant. Mom said it was better to stay home but we managed to convince her to go.

We had a great bonding time at the restaurant. We ordered food that my mom likes to eat.

Her favorite cake is called "tulumba". It's been a long time since she ate it. We surprised her and ordered a “tulumba” for her.

Life is made of little things, and the biggest challenge is to make someone happy in the moment of their greatest sadness.

Mom, happy birthday to you. Thank you for everything you have done and are doing for us. This is not your 56th birthday. This is your first birthday in a new life. You have to learn again to laugh, to walk, to find happiness from scratch. The past is behind us and we are happy to have enjoyed it. We were the happiest family and that makes us good people today. I'm proud to be your daughter.

Thank you very much for reading.

The images and article are original and mine.