Happy Mother’s Day!

Dear Friend, 

Today, we celebrate all the moms in Delaware – and across the country –  who have taught us some of life’s most important lessons and helped us become the people we are today.

I truly believe that one of the biggest keys to success was that my sister Sheila and I picked the right parents. My mom used to take my sister and me to church every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night and just about every Thursday night. Most people don’t think they have church on Thursday night, but they did at that Woodlawn Baptist church and, more often than not, we were there! My mom wanted to make sure that my sister and I understood the difference between right and wrong so we’d be more inclined to do what was right. She wanted to make sure that we learned the Golden Rule. She wanted us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes.

My mom taught me so much, and my wonderful wife Martha – my partner for over three decades – has done the same for our boys. She has always managed to do it all – from having an successful business career to raising Christopher and Ben to be the fine young men they are today. All three of us are so lucky to have her – today and every day.

I know I’m not alone when I say that our mothers taught us well, and it’s up to us to take the lessons we learned from them and make this a better world for all children and families. A world where our children have clean air to breathe and clean water to drink – no matter their zip code. A world where every child has access to the health care they need. A world where no family goes bankrupt or falls into poverty as a result of a sickness or medical emergency. And a world where we follow the lessons that my mom made sure I learned from Scripture: to welcome strangers in our land and to treat others the way we would want to be treated.

The early lessons my mom taught me and my sister continue to inspire and drive me today. In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I invite you to share with me on Twitter or Facebook one of the lessons that your mom, stepmom, or any other mother figure in your life taught you.

I’d like to wish my wife Martha, and all moms in Delaware and across the country, a very happy Mother’s Day!

God bless,

Tom Carper