From the start, a mom is the first role model we’re given. We mimic the simple things they do from fixing our hair, to putting on makeup, to dabbing perfume. From a young age, I can remember playing house with friends and saying things my mom would say or do things in the manner my mom would do. As I got older, I never really went through the “I hate my mom, she’s so stupid” stage. Although I, like many girls, forget to show my appreciation, this article is dedicated to everything I forgot to thank my mom for.
1. For giving me the last piece of cheesecake.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned my mom consistently does, it’s sacrifice. She is constantly sacrificing her own needs for my own when it comes to taking us to events when she had prior engagements, or something simple like giving up the last piece of cheesecake she was so desperately craving when she got home.
2. For never saying, "I told you so."
For all the times that you warned me about things you thought I’d regret; you were right. If I didn’t listen to you, I now know that your expertise advice would have saved me the hassle, but of course, I didn’t listen. Rather than telling me you were right, you simply picked me back up on my feet and helped me fix everything that was wrong.
3. For never giving in.
The best memory I can recall is when I called you at 3 in the morning during my first few weeks away at school. I begged you to let me come home and to send me on the next flight out because I was so homesick and needed you so bad. As much as it broke your heart, you told me I wasn’t allowed to come home until the holidays and that I needed to stick it out. Two years later, looking back at that situation, I would have never come back to school if you gave in and said I was allowed to come home. For that, I thank you.
4. For biting your tongue when I should have bit mine.
For those rare times we did fight and I said hurtful things, you killed me with kindness. Rather than attacking me with words as I had done to you, you simply said nothing.
5. For always supporting me.
When I came home to tell you within one week that I was asked to be a basketball manager, offered a job as a barista, and given the opportunity to be a class senator, you didn’t doubt my abilities. You proudly congratulated me and told me what a good job I was doing.
6. For always keeping your arms open.
All those times I needed a good cry, you were there to extend your arms open to me and hold me while I cried my way to peace. I’m sure all you wanted to do was cry yourself, but you were strong enough for the two of us.
7. For giving us our version of the perfect family.
With your best judgment, you let Dad into your life and chose him to father your children. You gave me the best little brother. Not to mention, you gave us a relationship with our grandparents most people never, ever get to have. You made our family perfect for us.
8. For knowing when to be my mom and when to be my friend.
Because we have a relationship unlike most mothers and daughters, we get to talk about a lot of things that are considered taboo. You know about all my drunk college nights, my biggest mistakes, and everything in between. You know when to laugh at me and when to lecture me for making stupid decisions, even when I wasn’t looking for the lecture. You’ve never made me feel afraid to tell you things, and even when I don’t want to, you still allow me to tell you whatever is on my mind.
9. You’ve given me the best traits.
Without you I wouldn’t be my bubbly, outgoing, goofy self. You’ve taught me how to make people laugh, strike up conversations with people, make others feel comfortable around me, and you’ve taught me to be nice to others, even when I want to be sassy. You’ve also taught me proper etiquette in different scenarios, and you’ve taught me how to portray myself as an adult.
10. For dropping everything for me.
Those random times that I absolutely needed to go to the store to get the new Jonas Brothers album, get my nails done because I just chipped one and I can’t look tacky, or those times I saw something super cute online at Nordstrom and just absolutely had to buy it in person, you stopped whatever it was you were doing to take me to get whatever it was that I needed.
11. For always being there, physically and emotionally.
Having you be a flight attendant, leaving the country for days at a time, was hard as a kid. I missed you so much and would count the days until you would be home to play with me. As I got older, I became used to it; it never felt like you were gone for more than a day. When I needed you around for something, you would alter your schedule to make sure you were there for both Kale and me. When I got older and left for college, you were always only a phone call away, making everything much more bearable.
I didn’t realize just how much you were there for me until I moved across the country to Florida, knowing absolutely nobody. Calling you every night turned into calling you every couple of days because you encouraged me to be the best version of myself and meet new people—which is exactly what I did. I met people that are lifetime friends, and it’s all because of your encouragement.
12. For playing the role of both parents.
When Dad passed, you stepped up. You helped Kale with his sports, helped me with everything I needed, and never let us feel like we were entirely missing out. You continued raising us by yourself, and if I do say so myself, you did a damn good job.
13. For being you.
Countless times I’ve just rolled my eyes at the silly, embarrassing things you do. But you’ve never let that stop you from telling the funny joke you heard on the airplane or sharing your opinion about the cringeworthy stories you have about Grandpa.
The list could go on and on, and I’m sure 10 years from now I’ll have many more things to thank you for. But for now, I wanted to let you know you’re perfect the way you are and I wouldn’t trade a mom like you for anything.
