I miss my mother deeply. I don't speak about it much, the emotions are too close to the surface and threaten to surge up and overwhelm me at any given time, but the empty space left when she passed away is there every day.
I grew up in a military family and have distinct memories of my father leaving for six months at a time, saying goodbye at the airport and crying so hard I couldn't breathe. As a mother now myself, I can't imagine how difficult it was for my mom to say goodbye, sending him off yet keeping on a brave face for me and my sister while offering us the comfort she probably needed herself. Because I don't know if I could do it, if I would have it in me to be as brave as her. Or as strong.
Normally for Mother's Day, I write about my mom. But this Mother's Day, I'd like to take a moment to honour the people who send their loved ones off while keeping a brave face and offering comfort to children who are too young to understand the importance of what these young men and women are doing. Just like my mom did.
The joy in these homecomings speaks more about the emotional sacrifices these families have made than I ever could ever write here.
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