Serena Williams pens touching open letter to her mother

Becoming a parent is an eye-opening experience to say the least and it seems tennis star Serena Williams has a whole new appreciation for her own mother after giving birth to her first child just weeks ago.

Williams shared a powerful open letter to her mother Oracene Price on social media website Reddit, thanking her “for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships”.

“I’ve been called man because I appeared outwardly strong,” she wrote on Reddit.

“It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said I don’t belong in Women’s sports — that I belong in Men’s — because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).

“But mom, I’m not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZO4H4BhMb8/?taken-by=serenawilliams

She went on to say she hoped she could take her mother’s lead and face the world with class and her head high.

“Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges–ones that I enjoy,” she said.

“I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.
Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help.

“I’m not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.”

Do remember appreciating your mother more after you became a parent? What do you think of Serena’s letter?