Dear Tori,
Like everyone else who have written, I hope you read my e-mail. Tori like you, I had a hard time having a relationship with my mom. My dad and I are very close and he says, 'that maybe it is because my MOM and I, are so much alike, that we can't get alone.' I tried all you did to get my moms attention, even brought expensive gifts and nothing worked. So I basically focused on my kids. Then one day instead of calling or writing my mom, I just went over there. I was basically like ok, you are my mom, you won't come to me, so I am comming to you. Because really, what do you have to loose? Your feeling are already hurt, and with each let down, it's like a slice into your heart.
So Tori just go over there, BY YOURSELF, and talk to her. No cameras!!! Then ask if you can bring the kids by to see her. I don't know why? but it makes a difference with this approach. My mom said, that it was hard for her to come back into my life, because she had missed so much. And felt as if it wasn't fair to just step back in, like nothing has happen. But once I showed up at her doorstep, she couldn't turn me away. But it was easy for my Mom to set aside an invitation, but not her child. A reunion between a mother and daughter, is just that. Between a mother and daughter, the tears will fall, the shouting match may start, the resentment will be there, then the make up will come, and hopefully, all in one setting. And it should be for your eyes only. Then ease your Mom into your life, and on camera. But you have to have a one on one, sit down first.
I am a strong believer in god, and that everything happens for a reason. So there was a reason you were going thru this on TV. And your message now, is to go at it alone, GO TO YOUR MOM!!. Then maybe at a later time you can have and introduction party, to introduce your MOM to all of us!! GOOD- Luck.
Tori, my Mom and I are not very close now but; we don't argue, we now share hugs, talk on the phone, and I visit her once or twice a month. So we haven't closed the gap, (and we probably won't), but we are at a happy medium. And I have faith that you and your Mom can find that Meduim also.
And my kids are grown now, and they have a better relationship with my Mom than I do or did. And am I jealous? NO!! I just wanted my Mom in there lives. And I feel my Mom's relationship with my kids, is her way of making up for the one we didn't have.

GOO LUCK, Tori