Mad

This is Madison. She is the daughter of  Matt and Tammy. Matt is the Pastor at Sandals. Tammy is one of my best friends. She and I have a relationship that has been life changing and I am so grateful for it. But there's one thing that she gave me in our friendship that I just can't live without and it is Madison. I remember the first time I saw that 2 year old and her chubby cheeks. I also remember the last time I saw her before we moved. We were up in her room and she said "Ms Heather, I am going to miss you. YOU are like a second mom to me" Oh i lost it. See one of the things I mourned as we moved was the loss of this relationship. See I wanted to be the one she ran to as a teenager to talk about sex, drugs and all in between. I wanted to be the one she cried to when her first boy crushed her heart. I wanted to be there on her birthdays, on her prom night.  I just wanted to be the one to be her second mom. I don't know where this post is going all, I just know that I miss her. H

Comments

[Kendra]

What a wonderful relationship you have with her .... and can still have even though the Lord called you far away, you are still only a phone call away! Cherish that and cultivate that! That is so special.

[Kelly @ Love Well]

My heart aches for you, Heather. I resonate with that longing for relationships left behind. We've moved ... well, too much. Nine times in 15 years, I think. Leaving the close relationships behind is always the hardest part for me. I mean, I know we live in a great age of IM, e-mail, web cams, etc. But there's nothing quite like getting together for an impromptu cup of coffee or play date at the park.

But God knows even this, sweet one. Even this.

[Lita]

I give you lots of credit for moving such a long distance away. Not many would have done that. I'm sure that little girl thinks of you alot and hopefully any advise you gave her will stay with her for a very long time. Your always a phone call or an email away from her. Keep smiling :)

Lita
NJ

[Crystal Renaud]

aww H, i am sorry - that is really hard. my heart mourns for yours. i know there's not really anything that can make this situation feel better or miss her less, because missing her shows how much you love her, but i am saying a prayer of comfort for you right now.

[Joanne]

Keep that relationship going, it will mean so much to her!!

I had a second mom like that-- she was my best friend's mom and also was my mom's best friend (hope that made sense!). We moved when I was 12 and we lost touch, until I moved back to CA at age 28. I went to see her and as soon as she opened the door she called me by her childhood nickname for me and it was like I never left.
A few years later she was dying from liver failure waiting for a transplant. I had never known she had struggled with alcohol. I was fortunate to speak at her funeral. Many that spoke knew her struggles and how she embraced her sobriety, etc. which I was proud of. But when I got to speak, I was able to speak honestly from a child's point of view. She was my kindergarten aide, she was my scout leader, she hollered at me like my own mom sometimes when I needed it. I was able to talk about the kid stuff that I remembered about her. Her own kids and husband expressed appreciation for this because so much of her later life was focused on her illness and transplant, and it was nice for them to be able to remember those other special qualities about her from someone else's point of view, and that bottom line, she was important to kids.

Just know that as she grows up, you'll hold a special place in her heart, so call her, write her, be there and she will treasure it!!

[Shelia]

I have a 16 year old daughter...a PRECIOUS 16 year old daughter. The last year has been quite the journey. How I wished there was a "Heather" in her life. She is really open with me, but I know there were times when she needed someone who was not me but loved her like I do.

You can still be that for Madison. She might not be able to pop over to your house and sit up late and eat junk food and chatter. But, the relationship you have built with her can survive distance. Don't stop being that person in her life. She WILL need you.