How many times do you tell yourself in a week that you need to call your parents more? It's easy to forget to appreciate your parents when you're living apart from them at college. And don't get me wrong, dads are awesome, but sometimes you just need to thank your mom.
Between raising me with her strong values and morals, teaching me how to deeply love over people, and juggling it all gracefully like a superwoman, I could not be more thankful for my incredible mother. Here are just a few things I need to thank my mom for.
1. For giving birth to me
Women don't say childbirth is one of the worst pains they've ever experienced in their lives for no reason. The pains of childbirth are so intense that these guys underwent labor pain simulation to understand just what women go through. I can't speak from personal experience on this one, but I think it's fair to say that most, if not all, moms experience humongous amounts of pain in order to bring their children into the world. If that's not love, then I don't know what is.
2. For all the packed lunches, playdates, parent-teacher conferences, and complicated carpools
Having to manage three separate schedules for my sisters and me when we were younger was no easy task. Between the different sports and activities we did, different friends we had, and the insane busyness of our young lives, it's safe to say that organizing our lives would have been any mom's worst nightmare. However, my mom managed to gracefully juggle it all and to stay patient because sometimes 10-year-olds can be punks to their parents.
3. For teaching me to love myself
Personally, I think this is one of the most important lessons that any college student needs to learn. I am lucky to have inherited some of my mom's independence and listened to her wisdom when it came to friends and relationships. She's taught me that, at the end of the day, I matter and that is an invaluable lesson. My family is slightly obsessed with the movie "The Help," and my mom put a sign over our backdoor that says, "You are kind, you are smart, you are important" to remind my sisters and me to think of ourselves this way as we leave our house.
4. For teaching me to form my own opinions
My mom definitely has her stances on issues, but most importantly, she encourages me to think about things for myself. Though we usually agree on things, she never pushes her opinions or ideologies on me because she knows that I am an adult, fully capable of delving into controversial things myself instead of blindly accepting her thoughts because she is my mother.
5. For always being there, whether it's at 2 a.m. or when I'm halfway across the world
Whether something good happens or something bad happens, my mom is usually one of the first people I go to. My mom is always willing and excited to hear about my day, whether it included me failing an exam or running into an old friend. I know that I can always call her if I need anything, but also if I just want someone to talk to.
6. For not being my best friend
I would definitely consider my mom a friend now that I am older, but when I was growing up, she found a balance between being a parent and being a friend. This balance is a tough one to navigate because, as a mom, part of her job description is to discipline but do it in a loving and caring way. I know that my mom will always be blunt with me if I ask her opinion and I respect her advice because, after all, she was once a college student too.
7. For leading by example
One of the things I've definitely learned from my mom is the value of kindness. She embodies sincere kindness even in tough circumstances and I have learned this value because I've seen her live it out in her own life. My mom is an effective teacher in all senses of the word because she knows that my sisters and I look up to her as a role model and will follow her actions more than her words.
8. For showing me how to have a healthy balance in life
Between being an independent photographer, local volunteer, playing on a tennis team with some of her best friends, and being a mother, which is a full-time job, my mom is definitely busy. She juggles all these things seamlessly and her example shows me that she is fulfilled in multiple areas of her life, not just one.
9. For supporting me, no matter what, and believing in me even when I don't believe in myself
I think of my mom as my constant personal cheerleader. I could tell her that I wanted to change my major and take my life in a completely different direction and she would undoubtedly support me in these endeavors. It's nice knowing that even when I mess up, my mom is there to defend me, protect me, and remind me of who I am. I can't think of anyone else who supports me better.
10. For always loving me unconditionally, simply because I am her daughter
This one needs little explanation. I can't even begin to comprehend a mother's love for her daughter since I do not have any kids of my own, but I do know that this love is genuine, protecting, permanent, and selfless.
If you're reading this, I'm guessing that you feel the same way about your own mom. So give your her a call and thank her for one of these things or for something else, because moms just rock and, as their children, we have so much to be thankful for.
