Thank you notes

I am a firm believer in thank you notes. I love getting them. As always, there are exceptions to the rule. A new mother should not be expected to write out dozens of thank you notes in between midnight feelings, dozens of diaper changes, running a household and trying to maintain a semblance of sanity. My children, however, are NOT exempt from writing thank you notes. I came up with a brilliant strategy. They cannot play with, read or wear the gift until they write a thank you note. Christian, age 3, draws a picture or covers a piece of paper with stickers and I sign his name. But, he knows he is saying thank for the gift he received.

I also believe that all acts of kindness, no matter how simple or small, deserve a thank you. My thank you notes may not be witty, clever, well-written or completely legible but they are sincere. So to all my friends and family, I want to say thank you for:

Always taking my calls, even when I want to rant, rave, cry, whine or brag.
Driving to the cornfields to spend the weekend with us.
Ignoring my messy house and squabbling children.
Overlooking my many, many faults.
Putting up with my bad moods.
Understanding when I get overwhelmed and fall off the grid while I pull myself together.
Never making me feel crazier than I already feel.
Being patient when I let things slip through the cracks and get frazzled.
Putting me at ease when I get uptight.
Reminding me to stop, relax and breathe.
Making me smile when I want to cry.
Letting me cry when I need to.
Supporting me when I need to lean on someone.
Picking me up when I fall.
Reminding me every day what true friendship and family is about.