In this transition period of life, college students are spread so thin. Between classes, jobs, internships, and normal human functions, it can be hard to also add keeping in contact with those close to us. The person I try to stay connected with the most though, is my mom.
To some, our mom is an essential human being in our life. They are the person that almost always answers the phone, the one who listens to our every word, and the one who is always thinking of us. However, while our moms are constantly wondering what we may be doing, about our safety, our future plans, and our risk and questionable diets, we have the ability to forget how valuable they are to us. Sometimes, we need to take a step out of our crazy lives, and reflect on how much we owe to our mothers.
So, I would like to take this time to thank my mom, as well as the billions of other mothers out there.
Thank you for allowing me to take so much from you. In the beginning of my life, I was responsible for taking up your extra time, sleep, and sanity. From the diaper changes to bath times to the goodnight swaddles, there is great value in the fact that you were the person there for me when I could not care for myself. Those memories are not very clear to me because I was so young, but I know that you will always cherish them. In my childhood years, I was imaginiative, and dreaming big. Thank you for allowing me to take up your bedroom space with Barbie houses and Polly Pocket small towns. My creativity and artistic expression are still alive because of this. In my teenage years, I most likely took quite a bit of your impatience and frustration. Being my mom throughout my middle school stage is medal deserving in itself. No matter how foreign the trends and fads at the time, you always tried to understand me, which is something I will always remember. Now, I take from you pieces of my personality and my beliefs. You are undeniably charming, and never fearful to express yourself. I would have never learned to be the same way if it weren’t for seeing it you. Thank you for that.
Thank you for always answering my questions, and being there to talk to. Since I was a child, I have always been curious about what life and this world was about. I always had big questions, and you never brushed them off. The effort you would put into trying to answer my questions is something I will always appreciate. You never wanted to leave me in the dark, without at least some bit of knowledge about a subject. In addition to my questions, I always wanted you to tell stories. Thank you for telling all your stories. Additionally, thank you for repeating all your stories, whenever I wanted to hear them over and over and over again. Those stories are why I know more about myself, my family, and my traditions. When you would pick me up from school, those stories are what I looked forward to. And when I call now, whenever I get the chance, a good story is what makes me miss you.
Thank you for all the typical mom stuff. The period talk, the sex talk, the chores, driving me everywhere, taking me on vacation, creating memorable holidays, keeping the house nice, letting me have a cat, letting me be with my friends. While these are small things, sometime we forget why or who makes them happen. I want you to know I am very aware that it was you who made all of those things happen.
The one thing I am most thankful for, however, is our friendship. Thank you for being my best friend. Even though we have been friends my whole life, the friendship we have now that I’m older is different than ever before. In the beginning, when I was little, there was friendship, but there was also the notion of keeping me safe and protecting me. Now, our friendship is so real. The times we spent together, watching TV, drinking coffee, eating breakfast, decorating for Christmas, I will always cherish those moments. These are the memories I pop up when I think of our friendship, because they mean so much to me. They are forever interlocked with a piece of my heart. Along with these memories, I think back to the conversations we’ve had, the laughs we’ve shared, and the traditions we’ve created together as friends. I could not imagine a friendship more valuable and golden in my life. This is what I think of, when I think of “Mom.”
So, if it isn’t in here enough already, thank you to those perfect, incredible human beings we call “Mom.” For being there to provide for us, answers all our questions, and be our best friends. I know that throughout this transitional period of life, that it can be really, really, hard to believe in myself. But I know that I always count on you to cheer for me, be proud of me, and believe in me when I cannot do so. No matter what, always know how thankful I am, how much I love you, and how much I care, even if there is a little amount of time to show it.
This is a special shout-out to my own mom, on her Birthday! Happy birthday mommy! Love you. “And while you’re out there gettin’ where you’re gettin’ to, I hope you know somebody loves you.”