Growing up I preferred my dad over my mom, but since about 10th grade my mom has been easier to relate to. Before I knew it, my mom became my best friend and being away from her has done nothing but show that she is one of my best friends.

1. She was always patient
   • I was a slow eater when I was younger, but my mom never rushed me.
2. She always knew when I did something wrong.
   • But most of the time she let me get away with it because karma always came back for me.
3. She taught me the basics of life.
   • Without my mom I wouldn’t know how to do such basic things in life (laundry, boil an egg, sew a button, and so much more.)
4. She is always supportive.
   • Throughout high school, and even now in college, I’ve changed what I want to do with my life so so many times, but no matter what I want to do my mom has my back.
5. She let me learn how to deal with the fights I pick.
   • When my sister and I would fight, most of the time she let us fight it out. And even in school when I got picked on, she made me take care of it.
6. She somehow managed to fit my crazy schedule in with hers.
   • In high school I participated in way too many clubs and sports, but my mom always found a way to get me there and home.
7. She always made a boring vacation fun.
   • One year we traveled to a bunch of different of caverns, which bored me. But my mom managed to fit in fun activities like the National Corvette Museum.
8. She’s always my #1 fan.
   • She supported me in everything, but she always found a way to go above and beyond to show that she was my biggest supporter. She very rarely missed a softball game or even a practice.
9. She taught me to love some amazing sports teams.
   • Now this may sound a little bias, but my mom taught me to love my hometown sports teams. I will forever be an Oriole’s and Ravens fan.
10. She gave me life.
    • Obviously without my mom I would be nowhere.
11. She always found a way to spoil me.
    • I know money has been tight for a while, but my mom always finds a way to give a little something here and there.
12. She has loved me since day 1.
    • I wasn’t the best child growing up and I had my fair share of bad days, but my mom loved me through it all.
13. She taught me tough love.
    • My mom is pretty stubborn, so I’m pretty sure she has passed some of that onto me (along with her attitude.)
14. She is irreplaceable.
    • Although sometimes she is my worst enemy, she is mostly my best friend and I would never trade her for the world.