The older I get, the more I’ve grown to appreciate my mom and the amazing relationship I have with her. She is the one constant that’s always been there for me in every possible way. She’s my biggest cheerleader, my shoulder to cry on, and the keeper to some of my deepest secrets. Whenever I get news, good or bad, I’m always excited to share it with her. I value her opinion and look forward to her input. She’s sacrificed so much as if it’s nothing—I remember her purposely working night shifts (which she hated) so she would be available to drive my brother to his classes. It may sound dramatic, but I believe she is the reason why I am still alive. I have struggled heavily with my mental health over the past few years, and she is one of the few people that has constantly kept me grounded and focused on not only staying alive but living the best possible life I can lead.
I think part of the reason our relationship has grown stronger as I get older is that I’m finally starting to relate with her as a person rather than idolize her as most kids do with their parents. When you’re a kid, your mom seems invincible—someone who has all the answers, knows how to fix every problem, and is always doing the right thing. While it is comforting to have this superhero image of your parents, I’ve recently started to see my mom on a more human level—someone who has bad days, makes mistakes, and sometimes doesn’t know the right answer. The first time I saw my mom crying was a pivotal moment in our relationship because I could finally be the shoulder for her to cry on. She isn’t perfect, but that’s because nobody is. But she always tries to be the best possible mother she can be for me and my brother, and for that, I am forever thankful for her.
Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to have such a positive relationship with their mom. There’s a lot of people out there that have abusive mothers that may make them feel uncomfortable or perhaps even unsafe around. Regarding this, I want to make something very clear: you are not required to have a relationship with an abusive individual, even if they gave birth to you (if you are experiencing abuse from a parental figure, do not hesitate to reach out and get help). All I can say is if you do have the opportunity to have a meaningful relationship with your mom, you should take it. If you don’t have a reliable mother in your life, I truly hope you can find someone who fills that role for you.
Everyone deserves to have a strong and loving woman in their life for both inspiration and comfort. Mother’s Day this year is on May 10th, so mark that date on your calendar and be sure to tell your mom (or that special woman in your life) how much you love and appreciate her. You don’t have to break the bank to give your mother an unforgettable day—make her breakfast, surprise her with her favourite Starbucks drink, play a board game; I can almost guarantee the quality time you spend with her will be priceless.
It might not be necessarily “cool” to declare yourself best friends with your mom, and it’s taken me a few years to get over that supposed lameness that accompanies the statement. Now, I’m proud of it. I know this compassionate, smart, funny, hardworking woman and I get to call her my best friend? That seems pretty cool to me.