Letter to my mother.
All the thank-yous you never say to her.
With Mum you talk about everything: the shopping, work, what to have for dinner. Almost never about what really matters. A letter to my mother: that’s the right place to say thank you, to tell her what she taught you and how much like her you are, even if you won’t admit it. You can write it today and have it arrive on a special day, or on any ordinary day.
Three reasons to write to her
You never manage to say it out loud.
With your mum it’s easy to argue and hard to say “I love you”. On paper the words come out more lightly, and they stay.
She kept everything of yours.
Your first baby tooth, your nursery drawings, your school reports. A letter is a way of giving her back a little of that care.
Understanding her is a long journey.
Often you only really understand her once you’re grown up, or a parent yourself. That’s the right moment to tell her.
A mum keeps every drawing you ever made. Give her your words.
How to write a letter to your mother
Five tips for a letter that’s like her, and like you.
- Start from one precise scene. Bedtime stories in her big bed, a snack after school, her perfume in the car: one image is worth a thousand adjectives.
- Thank her for the little things. Not just the big sacrifices, but the sandwiches with your name written on them, the nights she waited up until you got home.
- Tell her what you got from her. Her laugh, a phrase you catch yourself saying too, the stubborn streak. It’ll make her smile.
- Admit she was right. About one thing, at least. It’s the present every mum is waiting for.
- Choose the right day. Mother’s Day, her birthday, or an ordinary Monday when she isn’t expecting it.
Where to begin: 6 opening lines
Pick the line that sounds like you and carry on from there.
Short notes for Mum
Two lines on a card, in a message or at the end of the letter. Here are a few, for every occasion.
For Mother’s Day
- “There are lots of mums in the world. I was lucky enough to get you.”
- “Today is your day, but the greatest gift is the one you gave me.”
For their birthday
- “Happy birthday to the woman who taught me almost everything. The rest I learnt by doing the opposite.”
- “Every year one more candle, and every year I’m a little more like you.”
To say thank you
- “Thank you for always waiting up for me.”
- “Thank you for all the times you said ‘leave it to me’. Now leave the thank-you to me.”
When you become a mum too
- “Now that I’m holding my own daughter, I understand every hug you gave me.”
- “I wonder how you did it all. Then I remember it was you.”
From far away
- “We’re miles apart, but your ‘Have you eaten?’ always reaches me.”
- “Home is wherever you are, even when I’m on the other side of the world.”
For an ordinary day
- “No special reason. I just wanted to tell you you’re my favourite mum.”
- “I love you. Even when you ask whether I’ve remembered my coat.”
A daughter’s letter to her mum
Many letters to Mum are written when we become parents ourselves. Here’s an example, written by a daughter for Mother’s Day.
Dear Mum,
Tonight I read a story to the girls in the big bed, with the covers pulled up to our noses. At one point I realised I was doing your voices: the wolf with the deep growly voice, Grandma with the wobbly one.
I’d never noticed before, but I learnt them all from you. Like the way you tuck someone in, the kiss on the forehead, the “just one more page and then sleep”.
When I was little, I thought mums already knew everything. Now I know you learn as you go, one evening at a time. And you learnt beautifully.
Thank you for every story, every funny voice, every “one more page”.
Your little girl, who reads the stories now
Would you like to write to your children too? You’ll find ideas in the guides Letter to my daughter and Letter to my son.
Not just words
Alongside the letter, you can send her something that will make her smile.
- The grandchildren’s voices.A “Happy birthday, Grandma” recorded by the children, wobbly words and all.
- A photo from back then and one from today.You in her arms, and her with your children in her arms.
- Her recipe, made by you.A video of you cooking it, getting the quantities wrong as always.
- The story she used to read you.Read by you, with the same funny voices.
- A drawing by the children.Photographed, to keep with the letter.
- A song.The one she used to sing in the kitchen, when she thought nobody was listening.
Make it arrive at the right moment
A letter to Mum can arrive on Mother’s Day, on her birthday or on a day she isn’t expecting it. With Erabox, it takes just three steps.
Write or record
Text, voice, video, photos: everything you want to tell her.
Choose who will receive it
Your mum doesn’t need to sign up or download anything: she’ll receive a personal, secure link.
Choose the moment
Mother’s Day, her birthday, or a date that matters only to the two of you.
Erabox keeps your words safe on servers in Switzerland and delivers them on exactly the day you chose.
Letter to my mother: frequently asked questions
Can’t find your answer? Write to us via Help.
Other words, for other moments
The loveliest thank-you is a written one.
Write it to her today.
Write your letter to Mum. She’ll receive it on the day you choose.