Love Letter To Mom: Happy Mother's Day, Anje

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — She's the one that loved you first, but mom is much more than that. She’s a friend, a teacher, a counselor, a shoulder to cry on — and maybe one of the toughest women you’ve ever met.

We asked Patch readers in more than 1,000 communities to tell us what their moms mean to them. Nearly 200 people responded, paying tribute not just to moms but sometimes to grandmas, sisters and daughters who deserve recognition for Mother’s Day 2021.

Here’s what Patricia Dunne of Northville, Michigan had to say about mom Anje of Grand Rapids :

Dear Anje This Mother’s Day I wanted to thank you for my gift of being a mother. You had the courage to make an adoption plan when you were just in high school. You are so strong and made one of the most difficult decisions of your life at just 15 years old. You have given us the gift of being parents to a beautiful, smart, amazing daughter. Our lives have been changed for the better by having Laila as a daughter and little sister to Anna. Now that Laila is 15, and I truly understand what a challenging decision this was for you to make at that time in your life. It takes an extreme amount of strength and selflessness to make the decisions that you have. We feel blessed with the opportunity that you have given us for Laila to have open communication and visits with both you and your family throughout these years. I know that we have a relationship unlike most adoptive parents and I cherish that. You have provided Laila the opportunity of growing up knowing that she is loved by both her family and her birth family. I wanted to take the time to write and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day and know that we are forever grateful for you in our life!