My Dear, Sweet Mom,

Shortly after you died, I found something you wrote. I was sitting at your famous kitchen table, the same table where all the family therapy sessions would happen, and I was wondering how I could possibly get through one single day without you. I honestly felt I could not go on.

That’s when you chose to take this moment to tell me:

Courtesy of John Stamos

You meant for me to find that note when I did, and now I’m ready to write you back.

Your whole life was completely unselfish. Those sparkling hazel eyes were always looking for the good in people. We’d go to a restaurant, and you’d start talking to the waitress or waiter. “Oh, you’re so pretty … you’re such a smart young man,” this and that. Everyone who spent time with you walked away feeling better about themselves. Especially me, Alaina and Janeen. We used to joke with you about it — call you overbearing or just say, “Stop, please, Mom, c’mon!” But now I find myself doing it too — being over-complimentary, lovey, gushy, accentuating the good in people.

You called your house the Castle of Comfort for me. If I was working really hard or stressed out, I knew I could drive down there on a Saturday morning, spend the weekend and gain my strength back for the week. You poured a lifetime of love into me, and that’s what I’ll remember best too. Two and a half years later, that love still gets me through every single day.

I know you were worried about me toward the end of your life, because for a brief time I wasn’t living the way you taught me to live. You told my friends you were worried. I was naïve in thinking I could pull the wool up over you, because you’re so accepting of everything, but the truth is you saw it all. And things got rougher after you passed away. How could it not? You were the most important thing in my life. I allowed outside things to come in and cloud my spirit, but it was your strength that got me through it. Your voice, your beautiful face, your over-abundance of love is always running in the back of my mind and certainly in my heart.

Maybe someday I’ll have a kid or two, and maybe they’ll have red hair like yours (although like you used to say, yours came from a bottle). Maybe they’ll say, “I love you more” like you always said. But mostly I hope they have your humility and unselfishness and your ability to bring sunshine to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting you.

Oh, and I’ll promise you this, no matter how busy I am or how crazy life gets, I will always take the time write them lots of little notes the way you did for me.

I miss you madly, mother — until we meet again. And we will!

Happy Mother’s Day.

I love you more,

Johnny

as told to Devin Tomb

John Stamos stars as Jesse Katsopolis in the TV series Fuller House on Netflix.

This is part of a special series, “Thank You, Mom,” highlighting letters of gratitude from celebrities and notable writers leading up to Mother’s Day. To view the full collection, which will be added to throughout the month of May, go here.