Note: The following is in Spanish because when I speak to my mom, I speak to her in the first language I learned, Spanish. An English translation can be found below, so just scroll down!

Querida mamá,

No sé ni como empezar a describir lo mucho que aprecio la madre que tú eres. Son tantas cosas que me has enseñado – los consejos que me has dado desde chiquita, como ser buena madre y esposa, y como luchar para poder salir adelante.

Tú siempre fuiste honesta conmigo y compartiste lo que fue tu niñez, como lucharon para sobrevivir en esos tiempos difíciles, y porque tú querías mejor para nosotros. Me dijiste muchas veces lo duro que es ser mujer, pero al mismo tiempo me enseñaste que uno tiene que tener compasión. Pasamos por momentos difíciles entre tú y yo, pero creo que esos momentos sirvieron para prepararme para ser la mujer que soy hoy.

Yo sé que a veces yo no te lo digo o te lo muestro muy bien, pero créeme que siempre estoy pensando en ti y como puedo hacer mas. Quisiera poder verte todos los días sin tener que preocuparme del trabajo, los niños, la casa y todas esas otras cosas que al final del día me pregunto porque dediqué tiempo para hacerlas. A veces ni importan.

Te quiero decir que en los treinta y dos años de mi vida, siempre he sabido que puedo contar contigo. Yo sé que el amor que tienes por tus hijos es grande y que tú harías cualquier cosa por ayudarnos. Tu corazón es grande y les muestras el mismo cariño a tus nietos que el que nos distes a nosotros. Por eso, te digo mil veces ¡gracias!

Mami, es difícil imaginar mi vida sin ti. Tan sólo de pensar que la realidad es esa, que un día no vas a estar aquí, casi me muero yo por dentro. Te quiero mucho, mami y te agradezco todo lo que has hecho por tus hijos, por mí, por mi nena y nene, y por ser la mujer y madre que eres.

En este día de las madres que celebraremos el domingo, espero que recuerdes lo mucho que has hecho en tu vida, lo mucho que te queremos, y cuanto te admiro.

**********************

Dear mom,

I don’t even know how to begin to describe how much I appreciate the mother you are. There are so many things you’ve taught me – the advice you’ve given me since I was little, how to be a good mother and wife, and how to fight in order to succeed.

You were always honest with me and shared stories from your childhood, how your family struggled during rough times, and why you wanted better for us. Many times you told me how hard it is to be a woman, but at the same time you taught me to have compassion. You and I had difficult moments, but I believe even those moments helped prepare me to be the woman I am today.

I know I don’t always tell you or show you, but believe me that I’m always thinking about you and how I can do more. I wish I could see you every day without needing to worry about work, the kids, the house, and all those other things that at the end of the day I ask myself why I even bothered doing them. Sometimes they seem so unimportant.

I want to let you know that in the thirty-two years of my life, I’ve always known I can count on you. I know the love you have for your children is huge and that you’d do anything to help us. Your heart is big and you show your grandchildren the same love that you showed us. For that, I say thank you a million times!

Mami, it’s tough to imagine my life without you. Just from thinking about the fact that the reality is just that, one day you won’t be here, I nearly die inside. I love you a lot, mami, and appreciate all you’ve done for your children, for me, my daughter and son, and for the woman and mother you are.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, I hope you remember all you’ve done in your life, how much we love you, and how much I admire you.

Disclosure: This story is sponsored by Hallmark through their Life is a Special Occasion campaign. As always, all stories and opinions are my own. To receive special offers and discounts from Hallmark, sign up for their e-newsletter!

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and you know abuelita is waiting for that special card to arrive. Why not make it extra especial and have your little ones make their very own card for abuelita?

My four year old chiquita made the one you see above. Okay, she had my help, but trust me, with a little supervision and prepping, even a 1-year-old can make a card for abuelita.

Homemade Mother’s Day Card for Abuelita (Grandma) – Craft for Kids

Materials:

You can pick up all of these supplies at your local Walmart.

• assorted card stock and scrap-booking paper
• 1 brad
• glue
• scissors

Instructions:

First you will need to make a stencil in the shape of a teardrop. You will use the same stencil to trace the leaves and the flower petals. Cut three of each coordinating color: three green teardrops for the leaves and three sets of three different coordinating papers for the petals. Set them aside.

Pick a solid color of card stock to make the card. Fold it in half.

Using a coordinating solid color, cut a slightly smaller rectangle. (My daughter loves purple so she picked a darker purple for the main card and a lavender for the smaller rectangle.) Have your little one glue it in place.

To help guide your little one, draw a dot somewhere around the middle upper half of the card. This will help guide where each petal needs to go. Make sure that the pointy side of each petal is placed over the dot. Have your little one glue on the first petal.

Moving clockwise, have your little one continue gluing each petal overlapping slightly.

After all the petals have been glued, the card should look like the one above. Now, let’s add a stem to our flower.

To make the stem, either you or your little one can draw a straight line using a ruler and a green marker. Do this starting at the bottom of the flower all the way down to the end of the smaller rectangle.

Now let’s add some leaves!

Using the green teardrops previously cut, have your little one glue them individually on to the stem. Make sure that the pointy side is now facing outwards.

Using some yellow card stock (or any other coordinating color) cut a small circle. Have your little one glue it onto the center of the flower. Let it dry for a few minutes.

You can leave the card as is, or you can add a little dimension and bling, by adding a brad to it.

With a needle or pin, pierce a tiny whole in the center of the flower. Insert the brad, turn the card over and fold brad ends.

You are done!

Now glue a piece of white paper to the inside of the card (if you like) and let your little one write her words of love for abuelita.

­­­­¡Feliz Día de las Madres!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.