Let Your Tears Rain Happiness

You will cry.

Sometimes, you cry for me when you're having trouble going to sleep.

You rarely cry when you fall, unless you've torn open your knee or the skin on your palm.

I want to catch all of your tears in my hands and absorb your pain, whatever the cause may be.  As you grow, I know I will not always be able to be there, holding your hand when you cry.  I know that you will not always want me to.

I can't always pick you up and dry your tears , as much as I want to.

Someday, someone will break your heart, like the first boy I was crazy about in high school.  

Someday, you will be disappointed, like the job I interviewed for but didn't get.

Someday, you will be sad when a friend hurts your feelings, or when you hurt his or hers.  

Someday, you will stumble, like I did when I took my first year of college for granted and didn't study hard enough.  

On those occasions, I can't always pick you up and dry your tears.  I can't deflect your pain and I can't take the hurt for you.  As your mama, I will be here to give you a hand.  Or a handkerchief.  I will offer an ear to listen.  Or simply, my love from across the miles, wherever you are.

Let your tears rain happiness.  

You will learn to pick yourself up and dry your own tears.  You will learn to make choices that lead to fewer tears and choose friends and partners who do not make you cry.

While you are small, I will not let you cry for long.  You already comfort yourself by saying, "I'm here; I'm not going anywhere," as I say to you when you're upset.   You are brave and strong, and I expect you to carry yourself that way as you grow up.

But remember that it's OK to cry, and it does not mean you're weak; especially for a boy... or a man.  I've seen your father cry tears of pain and of joy.  I saw the tears in his eyes when you were born.

The best advice I can give you, my sweet boy, is this:  whatever or whomever is causing you tears of pain, ensure it doesn't happen again.  Learn from your mistakes and move on to happy tears.

Because if you're going to cry, let it rain happiness and not hurt down your beautiful face.

Love always,  Mama