After 40 years of marriage my husband is divorcing me. It has been a terrible blow to my ego. On Mother's Day, however, my daughter gave me an incredible gift. I got my self esteem back.

She began her note with "This year marks your first Mother's Day as a mother but not a wife. In case you're suffering over the loss of the latter title, I wanted to reassure you that the other title is in impeccable shape." What followed was a four page list of things I'd done for her and her brothers over the years. Things like making sure the house was decked out for holidays, giving my city kids the opportunity to go horseback riding, sailing, fishing and have a big dog. She even thanked me for not being a "helicopter mom." The list went on and on.

If you feel like the "mothering" things you do aren't appreciated, that's probably not true. I'm amazed at what my kids remember. Someday you will be too.