My First Friend

You raised me,
fed me,
played with me,
and rocked me to sleep at night

You did the dirty work
no one else wanted to do.
You were my first friend,
the first to love me

When I got sick,
you nursed me back to health.
When I pushed you away,
you were there for me anyway

You bathed me,
scolded me,
guided me,
praised me

You saw things in me
no one else could see.
Your faith in me
gave me faith in myself

There is no substitute
for a mother's love.
I am me
because you're you