“Dear Maria and Dom,
Everything I wanted to say was in no way going to fit in a small card, or even in a ginormous card intended for everyone to write on. I’ve been drafting in my head, everything I wanted to say for the past six months and now, that the time has come to put it into words, I am at a loss to find them. I have left a small token of my appreciation for both of you with Irma this morning. I hope you like them.
It has been a wonderful three years. You summed it up perfectly in your email - you had my support from Day 1 but what I hope you know is that, the reason why I stayed is because from the moment we met I felt like I had yours - something I had gone five years without. I have been supported by you both since the beginning and I cannot thank you enough. You have never made me feel inadequate, incorrect or completely crazy for my thoughts and the things I wanted. You have met every request with the most amazing care and consideration and I am not sure if I expressed enough thanks for that. I wanted to make sure I did that before it was too late.
To Dom - Batman will never exist in our lives without the memory of you being attached to it. I am sure i have told you before that my brother is a huge Batman fan - to the point where he has Batman tattooed on his back and the announcement that he and his wife were having their first baby was a Batman themed movie poster. Nicolas told him that he knew who Batman was and it’s not Bruce Wayne it’s Mr Dom. It made me laugh so hard that I cried. It’s more that just putting on a costume though. Since the very first day, you’ve been saving his world. Most days feature some conversation about Mr Dom, even on days where he doesn’t see you. This is testament to how much of an impact you have had on his life. Thank you for every time you’ve showed him what it means to be a good person. Thank you for every time you’ve pushed him beyond his capabilities. Thank you for all of the times you’ve explained to him that he needs to do something that he didn’t want to do. Thank you most of all, for loving him like he’s one of your own.
To Maria - There are so many things I could thank you for - for the times you’ve been a sounding board, especially when my old insecurities about daycare raised their head. Thank you for taking the time to share the things that Nic had done to make you smile. Thank you for knowing him well enough to know that he was ready to take the step up into the other room before I did and for not making the decision about a number, rather what was best for my child. Every day I knew that no matter what, you’d make sure that his needs were met and that even thought there were all those other children to care for, Nic wouldn’t miss out because he was just as important as any one of them. I have always felt you were on Nic’s side and therefore mine which was a welcome thing. Thank you for every time you’ve taken a moment to say hello or to ask how my day was. Thank you for reminding me on occasion that there was more to my life than being a mum - even though that is the best job in the world.
I honestly don’t know what I will do without you both as constants but I know without a doubt that, although my time as one of the Kids at Play parents has come to an end, I will be always part of the Kids at Play Family and that you will think of Nic from time to time just as we will think of you.
I know we will see you again - even if it’s just in passing as we drop the kids off at Nexstar Sports Camps. I promise to keep in touch, to send the occasional photo, to bring Nic back to visit and to stay on your Facebook page to make sure you are continued to be supported by someone who loves you both.”
Sarah