In honor of Mother's Day, I sat back and thought about all the great things my mom has done and continues to do for me, and I realized that being a mom is a pretty thankless job. I know that my mom does a lot for me, but do I ever think to thank her for most of these things? Not usually, no. Do any of us? Not like we should. So, here are 10 things that we forget to thank our moms for, but should.

1. Thanks for making me food all the time.

My mom doesn't care for cooking, but she'll always make my favorite dinner if I'm having a bad day, or bake cookies for my friends (because she knows college students love food).

2. Thanks for taking me shopping.

Not necessarily "thanks for the money" (even though you've obviously financially supported me most of my life), but thanks for just going with me, watching me try on a million dresses and telling me what looks good and helping me look my best.

3. On that note, thanks for teaching me the art of the deal.

My mom is a crazy good bargain shopper - she has a coupon for everything, and she has a knack for finding the nicest stuff on the clearance rack. Thanks to her, I will forever be the girl who, when complimented, says, "Thanks! It was two dollars and eighty-four cents!"

4. Thanks for being my chauffeur for 16 years.

I'm sure it wasn't exactly a ~fun~ time driving me to band and musical and football games and everywhere else; there were some late nights and early mornings, and you never complained. Thank you for doing this, because if you hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to do any of the things that I loved. And thanks for sitting through countless football games, freezing parades, boring concerts, and all those musicals. It meant a lot to always see you in the audience.

5. Thanks for teaching me about the importance of family.

We've always been incredibly close to my mom's side of the family, and this strong bond between my cousins and I has defined my life. Thank you for always making sure I had these relationships (friendships) in my life.

6. Thanks for letting me cry over stupid boys, but also making sure I understood my worth.

You understand my tears when a boy breaks my heart, and you let me cry. But not for too long. You let me know that it's okay to be upset, but that I can't let that heartbreak define me, and that I am worth so much more than a stupid boy. Thank you for helping me see my worth.

7. Thanks for doing my laundry.

(And for later teaching me how to do my laundry so I'm not hopelessly useless once I move out.)

8. Thanks for never getting (too) frustrated with me at any of the annoying stages of my life.

I was not a fun baby. Actually, I probably wasn't a fun kid or teenager either. And I know I'm not always that fun as an adult. Thank you for loving me through all of my ridiculousness (did you have a choice?). Thanks for always making sure I knew you loved me, even when I was decidedly unlovable.

9. Thanks for letting me gossip like a schoolgirl whenever I want and for pretending to understand who I'm talking about.

I know you never know what people I'm talking about when I talk about my friends or my classes or people from school, but thank you for always listening to me vent and go on and on and on.

10. Thanks for being my best friend. <3

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!