A Letter from Mom to Daughter
Dear Jade,
I will never forget the moment you were born. The nurse took one look at you and said, “She’s beautiful!” I have always loved big, wide doe eyes, and you have the most gorgeous ones.
Even when I was in high school, I knew that one day I wanted a daughter, and I would name her Jade. When you came into the world, it felt like that dream had come true.
No one can truly prepare a parent for their first child. Your dad and I really tried to get along and make things work between us, but sadly, it didn’t turn out that way. I later learned that the tension between us could even be felt while you were still in the womb. We both loved you so much, but we didn’t love each other, and I sometimes worry that, in some ways, you may have felt that lack of love growing up.
Looking back, there are things we would have done differently. We could have sought family counseling and therapy earlier. Children often internalize things in ways parents don’t always understand at the time, and we didn’t realize the impact that moving between homes may have had on you. If there were times growing up when you felt confused, hurt, or alone because of what was happening around you, I want you to know that your feelings were real and they mattered.
You have always been such an old soul. You are incredibly artistic, smart, and such an out-of-the-box thinker. In kindergarten, you had so many friends, and everything seemed wonderful. I wish I had known about the bullying you experienced starting in third grade. I would have done anything to help protect you from that. I am so sorry that I didn’t fully understand what you were going through or how to help you during that time. I’m sorry for the ways I hurt you, even if it was unintentional.
Thankfully, you had wonderful teachers like Miss Smith. I remember crying during parent-teacher conferences because she spoke so highly of you and gave you the most amazing compliments. You graduated fifth grade with Gold Honors, and I was so proud of you.
I know things became much harder when middle school began in sixth grade. The eating disorder started, which later turned into depression. I am so sorry that I didn’t fully understand what you were going through or how to help you during that time.
That struggle eventually led into substance abuse and serious mental health challenges. There were years of very difficult experiences–hospital stays, inpatient and outpatient programs, and many painful moments along the way.
While I wish with all my heart that you never had to experience those things, I do believe that sometimes the hardest seasons in life shape who we become. As the saying goes, what you go through, you grow through. Each of us has our own life lessons and challenges, and they are all different.
I thank God every day for Mission Prep being the final inpatient treatment that worked for you. You made the decision that you had had enough and that you were ready to change your life.
Looking back now, that moment became the turning point where your life began moving toward healing, purpose, and the beautiful future you are building today.
I will always be grateful for the team & program at Mission Prep. Mission Prep seemed to provide exactly the balance you needed–strong support, a sense of community, structure, and even moments of fun and reward that reminded you life could still be joyful. That environment helped you rebuild your confidence and start believing in the future again as well as learn how to find joy in sobriety. You learned to love and accept yourself and be at peace.
It was during that time that you realized you wanted to help others and pursue work as a CC, studying social work and psychology.
And now look at you.
You are two years sober.
You are in college.
You are working.
You are helping others.
You are building a beautiful life.
The struggles your aced did not break you–they revealed the strength and purpose that were always inside you.
I am so incredibly proud of you for choosing yourself every single day. Choosing sobriety. Choosing strength in a world where it is not always easy.
I know that sobriety is just a milestone—it’s a daily commitment, and the courage it takes to choose that path every single day inspires me more than you may ever realize.
I am proud of you for using your coping tools and reaching out to your support system when you need it. I am proud of you for showing up in those rooms and sharing your voice and your story with honesty and courage.
You are helping people who once stood exactly where you stood. I know that everyone in those NA rooms admires you for learning these lessons so young. Many of them say they wish they had found recovery at your age and how different their lives might have been.
You learned some very hard lessons early in life, but those lessons have given you incredible strength, wisdom, compassion, and the ability to connect with others who are suffering.
That is a gift.
Jade, I want you to know that I have always loved you deeply, and I always will. There has never been a moment in your life when I was not proud to be your mom.
Watching the woman you are becoming fills my heart with so much gratitude and hope. Your story is one of resilience, courage, and transformation.
And I truly believe that the best chapters of your life are still ahead of you.
Never forget how strong you are.
Never forget how loved you are.
And never forget that I will always be cheering you on.
My prayer is that your life continues to be filled with strength, purpose, and the deep love and friendships you so freely give to others.
With all my love,
Mom
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