Dear Editor:

Sequels are rarely a good idea, so last year when I wrote a Mother’s Day letter to the editor for my mom, Maryann Pereira, I did not think I would be doing it again this year.
It was a wonderful feeling to watch my mom open her gift on Mother’s Day, a framed newspaper clipping of her article.
At first she thought it was a joke…I guess that’s what I get for being a prankster all my life!
After a lot of, “No, seriously mom…happy Mother’s Day, I wrote this for you”, Mama Pereira finally got the point.
My mom is one of the most important people in my life; she has influenced and instilled such great qualities over the years to my brother, sister and myself.
This year, although I would love to surprise my mom again and write something about her, my life has changed a bit. I am getting married!
Now, I am trying to make sure this letter does not come off in a “Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City” think-out loud-as-I-type-kind of tone. Plain and simple, my life is about to take a new and exciting turn, and now I will have two moms to celebrate this Mother’s Day.
The more moms the better, double the guidance, double the food take-home packages, double the fun … that sounds like a Spearmint Gum commercial.
I still work at World Vision and love it, so this year in addition to writing another letter to the editor I decided that a great way to support Mayann Pereira and my “new mom, Vijay Patel” is to support an expectant mom living in poverty through the World Vision Gift Catalogue. (www.worldvision.ca/gifts) Or even sponsor a child in their name. (www.worldvision.ca)
The way I see it, without my mom and my dreamy fiancée’s mom, we would not be saying our “I Do’s” later this summer. So the least we can do is give the gift in our moms’ names to help two expecting moms have the same opportunity to be great mothers to their kid(s).
Maybe one day the two kids will meet and get married…OK, maybe that’s a “Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City” thought.
Happy Mother’s Day’s to all the Maryann Pereiras and Vijay Patels in the world. It does not matter how old we are, married or single, you’re not just our moms…you’re our whole world.

Editor’s Note. Last year, Alicia Periera wrote a Mother’s Day letter for her mother. This year she thought it would be great to send another one, not only to her mother but also to her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

Alicia Pereira
Osoyoos, B.C.