Dear Mom,
I want to thank you for being my mother. Every laugh shared, tear wiped away, and piece of advice given has made you the best mom I could ask for.
I’m so happy that we have the relationship we do. I know you’re always busy, but you always have time to chat. I’m glad we make time to watch Say Yes to the Dress and Mama Mia together. Saying “Oh my God, why did she go with THAT one?” or dancing around to “Money, Money, Money” will always have a special place in my heart.
There’s love in every bite of food that you share. In every hug, and in every text that just says, “At Walmart, need anything?”
I came from you, but I’m not you, and sometimes I wonder if you hate both sides of that. You hate how much I stress over work, just like you. But you love having someone to rant with. You hate how confrontational and impulsive I can be, unlike you. But, you’re happy that when it matters, I have a voice. No matter what, I know you love me.
You’ve been raising me for 22 years and counting. I don’t think there will ever be an age at which I stop coming to you for advice. Who else will ever know me as well as you? You knew me before I existed.
You’ve seen me at my best and my worst. You’ve seen me get accepted into an honor band, graduate twice, and celebrated with me. You’ve held my hair back when I’m sick and sat next to my hospital bed. You didn’t really need to experience when I first started driving, thank God. You would have had a heart attack.
Sometimes you don’t say the right things, but I know you don’t mean it how it comes out. It’s your first time living, too; you deserve the benefit of the doubt. I’m happy that we get to have our first time living at the same time, mistakes and all.
Whenever I have road rage, hear Cher, or see nail polish, you’re my first thought. I see a purse and wonder if it’s one that you’d like. Then, I remember that you like most of them, and it’d be silly to think otherwise.
I think I have a deeper appreciation for you since we lost Grandma. Watching you lose your mom reminded me to spend more time with you while you’re here (hopefully for many, many more years).
So many days and years you’ve spent with me. You let me live at home while I navigate Bonas. We’ve bonded over being commuters to Bonas and how much harder it is to form connections when you don’t live on campus. You wiped away my tears after I got picked last for groups in my classes.
Being a mom is hard. You haven’t been a perfect mom, but you’ve been a perfect mom for me.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.