Thank-you Son

So I have finally come to the end of a grueling 4 year BSN program, and likely won't be valedictorian, nor will have an opportunity to stand up and make a toast, so I figure that this a place where I can take the podium and speak. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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Son,

We made it!

I know that there are going to be people that try to correct me on that statement, "We" didn't do it..., "I" did it.

They are wrong.

I'm just talking to you right now little guy. Don't pay attention to the other people here. I know that you have spent around 75% of your life mixed up into my mission. I want to start with some apologies first, because they are due.

I am sorry that the beginning of your life was rough. I didn't realize that when I gave birth at the age of 18, that I was merely a child myself.

I am sorry that you had to travel with me on my path to success, I would have given anything for you to have taken a taxi cab ahead to this future point in our lives. Unfortunately, life dictates that you walk by my side the entire way.

Now my little guy, I would much rather thank you....

Thank you for you kisses each and every night that you have given me, even when I was short tempered because I had to study, write two papers, and do an online group project.

Thank you for accepting my less than perfect parenting, when I took you once again to rent a blockbuster movie that you would watch 5 times in a row so I could study, write two papers and do an online project.

Thank you for eating canned meals on the go at an hour way past "dinner time", because I had to take an evening class.

Thank you for living in 6 different homes over the course of me pursuing post secondary education. I didn't do it intentionally, but I admired your strength in switching schools, and you always did it with a smile. I know how hard that is, and I know that you dealt with it better than I would have any day, all day long.

Thank you for trying, in the best way that you knew, to protect me. I remember, little guy, the last place we lived in. The one that was infested with bedbugs. You called to me from your loft bed..."they can't get you up here mum". I crawled into bed with my text book, and you snuggled in, and fell asleep with your hand curled under my chin. I cried myself to sleep, with visions of congenital heart defects, and hopelessness for what our lives had become. I don't believe that we got bit that night. Thank you for protecting us.

Thank you for Going on mum's "adventures". I know that driving to the car shop, going to the university registrars office, driving to pick up police checks, were not in anyway fun and adventurous. I kinda thought it was boring too. Thank you for being enthusiastic about all our adventures. They will only get better. Trust me.

Thank you for standing in line with me at the food bank. I thought those people were scary looking too.

Thank you for waking up at 4:30 am on my clinical days, as I carried you to the car in your PJ's, snow blowing every which way, so I could drop you off at a babysitters and make it on time to hear shift report. I am not a morning person either (and I hate snow).

On the topic of clinical days, thank you for switching your schedule to accommodate mine. I know that my internship was hard for both of us. I didn't know that I would be on straight 12 hour nights. Thank you for eating breakfast and lunch in bed next to me while I slept. I would never have had it that way, but paying for a babysitter around the clock was out of our grasp.

Thank you for bragging about your mom, during your grade two class "Family Sharing Day". Although you had the facts a bit mixed up, to this day still, the rumor persists around the school staff that I am doctor, I thank you for being proud of me

Thank you for helping me celebrate being on Dean's List, I absolutely enjoyed the popcorn and movie. I want you to know I was celebrating for you as well.

Thank you little guy (and I know that you hate it when I call you that, I realize, with no sarcasm, that you are a very big boy at ? for holding my hand in a symbolic way during our entire adventure.

I could thank you until the day I died, for all your sacrifices, your optimism in life and your unknown (to you) support that you gave. There isn't enough space for me to type everything that we have been through. In the coming year, our lives are going to change. Mum is getting married, we have started looking at homes, I will be employed....

But, just me and you know what the journey was like.

We have finally made it.

Thank you Son.

WoW,

Very Well Said.

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That was a real and beautiful thankyou letter, it brought tears to my eyes.

I knew a nurse in a similuar circumstances as you, I do not know if she is stillusing her degree. she was later injuries in a MVA. On a happy note;

at Barry University when my best friend graduated, they have each graduate name a important person or family who help them the most graduate from college in any field or degree and the graduate gave a small version of a diploma fold with a thankyou for helping me graduate it had a nice note imbose into it with the special person name imbose in it. That was a wonderful surprise.

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Specializes in Rehab/LTC, Post OH, Med/Surg, Hospice.

Your article is one of the most touching I have read on this site. It brought me to tears. I too am a single mom that struggled through college, and my son was what gave me strength to get through it. Thank you so much for posting it. It will be an inspiration to other parents struggling to get through. CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU GUYS MADE IT!!!

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OMG! I thank you! As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I can relate to the struggle you endured. I'm just now starting my pre-req's and I just made some major decisions so that I can go back to school. I'm not getting any financial assistance, I'm paying out of pocket. In order for me to attend this semester I had to pay a big fee, therefore, I didn't pay my car note, water bill, (water got cut off today as we speak), going to get jugs of water so that me and my kids can bath. I'm a single mother of 2 girls. We have had to move several time, kids stay home alone, so that I can work. But I know that the choice I made a few weeks ago to continue my nursing degree will pay off in the end

Again I thank you for your post and it has proven to me that it can be done.

Thank you!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I consider myself one of the most stoic people here. I almsot NEVER get all emotional over a post. This one got to me. This OP is perhaps the best I have read of this type.

Congratulations on your graduation ... and for raising what sounds like a fine son. Good luck to both of you in your new lives ahead.

I hope you win the article contest -- and use the prize to do something really fun with your son.

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Specializes in ER.

Wow,

Thanks everyone for your kind responses, I wasn't really expecting this. I was a little nervous publishing this letter, I wasn't quite sure if it would be received well. (I'm very glad I did now)

Thank you to all the people who shared their stories as well, it takes a certain amount of bravery to admit that life is a sometimes a struggle.

Thank you Brian for the honorary award. I do intend on printing out this entire thread eventually, including the medal. I'll let my son read it at a later time when he's older and can understand.

Thanks again everyone.

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This was so touching, and an encouragment that there will be an end! I am in the food line and bed bug phase with my three children as a single mom! Congradulations for not losing sight of the goal.

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Specializes in family, internal, pediatric.

Wow, I'm still crying too! I wish you every success for the future. You did it!:yeah:

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Specializes in telemetry/oncology/icu.

Your letter brought back all the memories of the hard journey of school and what our loved ones endure to see us through. Congrats on your degree and upcoming marriage, what a wonderful job you have done with this letter to your son, and what a great outlook you have. Somebody pass the Kleenex please. I hope you win the award and have a great future ahead.:yeah:

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Specializes in Trauma ICU.

Wow...not many articles here really make me well up. What a wonderful reminder for all of us to be thankful for what we have. So much respect for single moms getting their education.

You've got one special boy there too, I hope both you and him go far. You're gonna fly :)

(Congrats on the marriage and graduation too!)

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wow, this brought tears to my eyes. i just finished writing a thank you to my son; he's turning 21 on the 19th of this month. your story hit home for me on so many different levels. i too attempted to go to school for nursing when my son was three and my daughter 18months. all the late nights keeping them up, dragging them to class with me. living in 9 different places, my youngest spent her first christmas in shelter we were living in that featured us on channel 5 in chicago in 1991.

we even lived in the storage room at my job, playing "camp out", at least that's what i told them, because i had to make a decision to either pay the rent or pay the sitter; at least paying the sitter ensured i would keep my job.

my youngest just graduated high school the 30th may this year and received a full academic scholarship to wheaton college. i enrolled and was accepted into a lpn program in springfield illinois. i quit my job and here i am.

i wished i had finished school when my children were young like yours, so they could have benefitted from it as well.

kudos to both you and your little guy....you're his shero and inspiration!

congratulations to you both!

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Aw it made me tear up! That was just so nice. :D

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