Some Things To Know About Your Mother

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I believe in mystery. I believe in family. I believe in being who I am. I believe in the power of failure. And I believe normal life is extraordinary. This I believe.

Anne Donahue of Westwood, Massachusetts is an online media director for a private investment firm. She listens to This I Believe via a podcast and decided to write about her own belief, not for our millions of listeners but for a more intimate audience. Here is our series curator, independent producer Jay Allison.

Anne Donahue's essay is, in a fact, a letter to her 8-month-old daughter, Grace. Obviously Grace won't understand that now but Anne wanted her words to be on the record/ in case Grace ever needs them. Here is Anne Donahue with her essay for This I Believe.

I believe a girl should know her mother, I mean really know her. On the highway does she drive on the right-hand lane or the left? When she was a little girl, what did she hang on her bedroom wall? What really makes her laugh? How does she handle a bad day? Does she like to dance?

I lost my mother to colon cancer when I was five, she was forty-two. I did not know these things about my mother. I could ask, I have a wonderful father and 5 older siblings who had the honor of knowing her much longer than I did. But I'm Irish. If you are Irish you may know what I mean. We don't tend to ask. In almost 30 years later my mother's early death is so a very painful subject for all of us. But I have my assumptions. Glean from years of careful listening, she was something of a cynic like me with a sharp wit. She was quick to laugh, she had a soft spot for children. She loved to read and write, she was loved by many and we will always miss her.

At 34 I just gave birth to my first baby, Grace, I am your mother. You're stuck with me. By the time you want to know these things about me you may not think I'm so cool anymore. A god for bid I'm not here to tell you, but I will be here. If it means it can’t * be every month for the rest of my life, I will be here. But in case you don't ask there're some small things about me you should know if you should ever wonder.

So I have a weakness for goofy-looking creatures, I know it's sappy but after loving ET since I was a kid, I finally adopted our pug, it was the closest I could get. My bedroom posters, they included ET, * and Robert Parish of the 84 * ticks. I've always wondered what my mother found funny. For me animals and human clothing always do the trick. A dog in a coat, a cat in a pillbox head or a chimp in a three-piece suit.

For the record, you too is the best beyond on earth. This is not a matter for debate, it's the truth. I always drive in a right-hand lane. You should know that your mother is a terrible driver. I'm best off in the backseat with my eyes closed. Lastly if you're in a bad mood, try marching in place vigorously. I'm convinced marching always makes you feel better. It's simply impossible to feel anxious while marching.

Dear Grace, as long as I'm here, please ask me anything anytime. I believe a girl should know her mother.

Anne Donahue with her essay for This I Believe. Anne's daughter Grace might want to know that her mother keeps a photograph of a chimpanzee in a three-piece suit on her desk at work. We invite you, too, to write about your beliefs for your children or you parents or for everyone. Visit NPR.org to find out more. Along with a link to our podcast. For This I Believe, I'm Jay Allison.

Jay Alison is the co-editor with Dan Gateman, John Gregory, and Vicky Maric of the book "This I Believe", the personal philosophies of remarkable men and women.

Support for This I Believe comes from prudential retirement.

"This I Believe" is independently produced by Jay Alison and Dan Gateman with John Gregory and Vicky Maric. There’s a "This I Believe" journal and day planner that might help you write your own statement of belief. It's available from the NPR shop and at npr.org/thisibelieve.