Bill,
the only thing you can do is hopeing that one day your mother will understand what you´ve talked about in your letter if you send it.
I can imagine what you´r feelings have been while reading her letter. She is talking about loosing you. How wrong is she. Aren´t they the ones who are lost for all critical opinions? I love my parents so very much and especially because of that it hurts a lot that they won´t understand. Intelligent people but without any own opinion. How can you tell them?
I whish you lots of luck.
Julia
P.S. Sorry because of my bad english.