Dear Mom

In Vietnam's jungle war, only one group of men was feared more than death itself—the Marine Scout Snipers. . . . The U.S. Marine Scout Snipers were among the most highly trained soldiers in Vietnam. With their unparalleled skill, freedom of movement, and deadly accurate long-range Remington 700 bolt rifles, the Scout Snipers were sought after by every Marine unit—and so feared by the enemy that the VC bounty on the Scout Snipers was higher than on any other elite American unit. Joseph Ward's letters home reveal a side of war seldom seen. Whether under nightly mortar attack in An Hoa, with a Marine company in the bullet-scarred jungle, on secret missions to Laos, or on dangerous two-man hunter-kills, Ward lived the war in a way few men did. And he fought the enemy as few men did—up close and personal.

Greive strikes at the heart of the mother-child relationship inside "Dear Mom." Now this ode to mom-dom receives an update, featuring special hand-colored enhancements to the book's captivating black-and-white photographs, author-illustrated end papers, and a gilt-highlighted cover.

Samantha Slayton's eleventh year includes losing her last baby teeth, towering over every boy in dance school, and being mortified by everything her mother does.

She lived through The Great Depression, her one and only sibling died, had four kids of her own - losing one of them in a mysterious accident, and had her arm amputated due to cancer. Yet, she's the most upbeat positive person I know. She's my hero, she's my mom. This book isn't just about Carm Drayer. It's an incredible collection of stories and tributes that will undoubtably touch your heart.*In 2017 Ohio State student Reagan Tokes was kidnapped, raped and murdered. To this day, her mom Lisa often finds signs from her beloved daughter. In Dear Mom, Lisa is looking for a particular sign on what would've been Reagan's 26th birthday.*Cancer can change so much. For TV News Anchor Maria Durant, it changed everything. Or did it?*What was it like raising twin girls as Ohio's First Lady? Karen Kasich shares fascinating secrets that have rarely been told. *Suzi Hanna not only raised three daughters, she also took care of wild animals inside her home! What else would you expect when you're married to Jungle Jack Hanna!*Katie Smith is a 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist. But how did her mom handle watching all those basketball games?*Imagine watching your kids make history on national TV. *The heartbreak of losing a fur baby. TV News Anchor Yolanda Harris knows that pain all too well. From dog moms to single moms and everything in-between. No one faces life's turmoil and triumphs quite like a mom. Dear Mom is a one of a kind book that you can't put down.

Dear Mom I'm Alive is the story of a young, politically naïve but fiercely patriotic young man during the height of the Vietnam War trying to make it through his one-year tour with his humor and humanity in tact. "As a former Warrant Officer helicopter pilot having served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm I have read Chickenhawk and CW2, but I enjoyed your book and story much more! It was great!! Jim Schuetzler."

Dear Reader: Every woman has stories to tell about her mother. The mother she has, the mother she wants, the mother she misses, the mother she didn't know. We carry our mothers with us. Sometimes we carry her in our hearts, in our heads-or on our backs. Sometimes we are connected to our mothers with the thick, strong cords of intertwined love and true acceptance; other times the bonds are stretched thin and taut, scratching against our consciousness, rubbing raw the sore spots in our souls. But we are always linked to our mothers: both to the dreams of the mothers we wish for and the realities of the mothers we have. Even if our mother has been gone for years-for decades-the relationship is still very much alive. Mom is still with us: offering advice, encouragement, criticism, appreciation, rejection, solace. What we daughters do with this ongoing commentary-whether we unknowingly incorporate it into our reality, or consciously and carefully review it, deciding what to keep and what to put away-is fundamental to how fully we lead our own lives. In Dear Mom: Women's Letters of Love, Loss, and Longing, you meet women who have stripped away pretenses, societal constraints, and basic fears to uncover and express their most private truths about their relationship with their mothers. You get to peer over the shoulders of the women, share in their laughter, and experience their struggles. You see how other women cast light on this most complicated, rewarding, and sometimes frustrating relationship. You witness women at different stages of their lives reflecting on the legacies their mothers (knowingly or unconsciously, but always powerfully) left them. You hear how other women experience the glories and the scars, the hurt and the healing that make up this most primal of connections. You also get to meet the women behind the letters, since each Dear Mom letter is followed by a profile of the contributor. You learn about the surprises, satisfactions, and challenges they faced in writing down their most private truths. The 25 Dear Mom contributors include women from a variety of backgrounds, careers, religions, and lifestyles. They include (present and former) teachers, business owners, homemakers, real estate agents, artists, secretaries, social workers, journalists, and government officials. Some are accomplished professionals, well-known in their fields and public figures in their communities. They are married, single, divorced, widowed. Many, though not all, are mothers themselves. Many contributors are baby boomers, in their 40s and 50s. Others are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. (The oldest contributor is over 90; her conversation with her mother continues!)

Carlson helps you cut through the uncharted waters so you can hear what your teenage daughter's really trying to tell you through her anger, silence, and mixed messages.

How do you put into words how you feel about your mom? Our Dear Mom book is a way to start! Using our book as your "canvas," you can embellish as much or as little as you wish, creating a keepsake your mom will cherish forever. Customize the cover with your own special photo Paste your photos inside Express your gratitude Revisit favorite memories Capture the spirit of your mom