Why a Needs a M a d e S p e c i a l Fo r :
M om
M a d e S p e c i a l B y:
Gregory E. Lang Gregory E. Lang
Mela nie
Mom
You're always there to help guide me whenever I've needed help. Thanks for always being there, I’m glad you’re my Mom! I love you.
Melanie
Other books by Gregory E. Lang: w h y a daugh t e r n e e d s a da d w h y a s on n e e d s a mom w h y a s on n e e d s a da d w h y i l ov e gr a n dm a w h y i l ov e gr a n dpa w h y i c ho s e you w h y i l ov e you w h y m y h e a rt s t i l l s k i p s a b e at w h y i n e e d you w h y w e a r e a fa m i ly why we are friends g ood lu c k , gr a duat e b ro t h e r s a n d si s t e r s si m pl e ac t s l ov e sign s life maps t h a n k you, mom t h a n k you, da d b e c au s e you a r e m y daugh t e r b e c au s e you a r e m y s on
WHY A
NEEDS A
Gregory E. Lang
made special for
made special by
Mom
Melanie
Copyright © 2013 by Gregory E. Lang Cover and internal design © 2013 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover image © Lisa Spindler Photography Inc./Getty Images Photographs not added by the customer by Gregory E. Lang Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. Put Me In the Story is a trademark of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. Published by Put Me In the Story, a publication of Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567–4410 (630) 961–3900 Fax: (630) 961–2168 www.putmeinthestory.com First published by Cumberland House, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Printed and bound in the United States of America LB 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
· I N T RODUC T ION ·
A
daughter needs a mom
for many reasons, and by the very nature of the differences between men and women, some of these reasons may never be clear to me, but that does not negate their vital importance in a girl’s life. Daughters need moms to help them understand what is happening to their bodies, to teach them how to make sound decisions regarding boys, to show them how to care for themselves, how to care for their children, and how to care for their marriage. Daughters need moms because they understand that sometimes tears come for no reason, that bad moods may simply mean nothing at all, that chocolate is a necessity, that being silly is fun, and that everything does not have to be practical or in accordance with a schedule. Daughters need moms because dads cannot be everything for them. Daughters need moms to help them grow into the wonderful women they have the potential of becoming. With this book I hope to give other daughters and moms cause for celebrating what is unique and special about their relationship.
—Greg
to provide her with memories that will last forever.
to tell her that beauty never fades if you look in the right places.
who believes it is okay to see things differently.
because there are some things a dad just can’t handle.
because no one understands girls like a mom.
to encourage her to be grateful.
to encourage her to laugh as much as possible.
to share in her excitement when she falls in love for the first time.
to show her how to put a little love in everything she does.
to tell her that the road to happiness is not always straight.
who knows how to let loose and have fun.
to tell her not to be afraid to seize the moment.
to catch her if she falls.
to teach her that even true love requires compromise.
to remind her, on the bad days, that she is not alone.
to teach her to laugh at herself.
to assure her that she always has a place to come home to.
to teach her that class never goes out of style.
who shares with her the wisdom of generations.
to carry her when she is tired.
who tells her of the special place she holds in her heart.
to soothe the pain of a broken heart.
who wants to help make her wishes come true.
to remind her to be playful, no matter how old she is.
no one understands quite like mom. She’s been there through it all: the triumph and the heartache, the skinned knees and the broken hearts. Mom’s love is the light on the path as her little girl becomes the wonderful woman she’s meant to be.