Good evening, everyone. For those who don’t know me, I’m Linda, Ethan’s mom and, as of today, Olivia’s new mother-in-law.
You know, they say that a son is a son till he takes a wife, but a daughter is a daughter all of her life. Well, I’m here to tell you that’s nonsense. Ethan will always be my little boy, even if he now towers over me and has a mortgage.
Ethan, my son, where do I begin? From the moment you were born, you’ve been keeping me on my toes. You were the child who thought that finger paint was better suited for walls than paper, who believed that “five more minutes” in the bath meant an hour, and who was convinced that if you ate enough carrots, you’d be able to see in the dark.
But you were also the child who’d bring me dandelions because you thought they were too pretty to be called weeds. The teenager who shoveled our elderly neighbor’s driveway without being asked. And the young man who drove four hours just to surprise me on my birthday.
Olivia, when Ethan first told me about you, his eyes lit up in a way I’d never seen before. He said, “Mom, she laughs at my jokes.” And I thought, “Well, she’s either a saint or needs her hearing checked.” But then I met you, and I understood. You don’t just laugh at his jokes; you make him want to be the best version of himself.
I’ve watched you two grow together over the years. You’ve supported each other through late-night study sessions, celebrated each other’s victories, and held each other through losses. Your love isn’t just about the big moments; it’s in the little things – the inside jokes, the comfortable silences, the way you instinctively reach for each other’s hands.
Now, I know it’s traditional for the mother of the groom to give some advice, so here goes:
- Always keep a sense of humor. Life will throw curveballs, but laughter is the best remedy.
- Never go to bed angry. But if you must, at least brush your teeth first.
- Learn to compromise. Ethan, this means accepting that pineapple sometimes belongs on pizza.
- And most importantly, love each other fiercely, forgive quickly, and dance in the kitchen often.
Olivia, I want you to know that you’re not just gaining a husband today; you’re gaining a whole new family who already loves you. And yes, that includes our annual ugly sweater Christmas party.
Ethan, my son, my heart. As you start this new chapter, know that I couldn’t be prouder of the man you’ve become. Your father would have been so proud to see you today.
To Ethan and Olivia: May your love be as endless as my credit card bill from this wedding, may your partnership be as strong as Ethan’s coffee in the morning, and may your life together be as sweet as the cake we’re about to devour.
Please raise your glasses with me. To the bride and groom – may your love story be so beautiful that even Nicholas Sparks gets jealous. To Ethan and Olivia!