1. LIFE, duh

I highly doubt the words, “hey ma, thanks for popping me out 21 years ago..you the real MVP,” have left your lips… EVER. But, if you take a moment to absorb where I’m going with this, you might want to rethink letting her know. Without your mother physically bringing you into this world you wouldn’t be where you are this very second; You would have never had the opportunity to experience the beauties of friendships, love, happiness, success, Chipotle...ANYTHING, without her. In more emotional words, your mother selflessly gave half of her soul for you to experience everything life has to offer… to enjoy every waking moment of life through half of her. Meanwhile, I’m still lying to the kid next to me in Bio about not having anymore gum (must be my dads’ soul speaking out).

2. Always Holding it Down

Me: “Mom, can I get a ride?”

Me: “Mom, what’s for dinner?”

Me: “Mom, can I get $20 for the mall?”

Me: “Mom, MY BOYFRIEND IS SCREWING MY BEST FRIEND. I JUST BOMBED MY TEST. SOLANGE GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH JAY-Z. THE WORLD'S ENDING. WTF IS GOING ON”

Mom: *magically fixes THE ENTIRE WORLD*

So maybe Solange and Jay-Z aren’t your main concern… but you see where I’m going with this one, don’t you? Isn’t it crazy how mother dearest can fix ANY problem we have.. emotional, financial, illness.. etc. Seriously. From shitty boyfriends (which momma ALWAYS knew would never work out from the get-go), catty girl problems, to paying my tuition, my mom has never failed me.

For some reason, I don't know, maybe I’m just a big ole baby - being in the presence of my mother while going through pain or struggle was always followed by an unspoken strength that was fueled by her mother-bear instincts; She would do anything in her power to get me back on my feet as fast as she could. In J.Lo’s words, “You don’t know how much you mean to me, Whenever you're down you know that you can lean on me, No matter the situation, I’m goin’ hold you down.” -Hold You Down

3. Keeping it Real

IDK about you guys but mom’s the realest OG out there. I went through a phase in middle school when I thought I was the SHIT; Wearing my Areopostale t-shirts, capri jeans, and Air Force Ones, had a hat with my name graffiti’d on it.

Meanwhile, attending one of the most affluent schools in my area. LOL. like WHY?? I wanted to be hood so bad... It was cool then, though, this was when Lil Wayne and 50 Cent were popping.’ Anyways, I’d be sitting there at home talking to my friends like “guuurrllaaa, what you doiiiinnn latteeeerrr?” and try to do the pimp walk, you know kind of limping a little. Oh nah, one day my mom HAD ENOUGH.

She said “CAITLIN JULIANN - yes my full name - WE DIDN’T MOVE TO THIS AREA TO HAVE YOU ACTING ALL GHETTO. YOU ARE A YOUNG WOMAN. YOU BETTER HOLD YOURSELF TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS. YOU THINK YOU CUTE? YOU AINT CUTE. YOU LOOK SAD. WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING TO GO IN LIFE ACTING THIS WAY? GIRL IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. GET YOUR ASS OUTSIDE, FOCUS ON SCHOOL AND BASKETBALL, STOP WEARING THEM WACK ASS CLOTHES, AND BE A ROLE MODEL TO YOUR SIBLINGS. YOU DONE LOST YOURSELF TRYING TO BE SOMETHING SO STUPID. DISAPPOINTING. AND YOUR BREATH SMELLS” *DROPS MIC*

I’m not even kidding, I saw my entire life flash before my eyes. Seriously, I didn't know if I had a ball stuck in my throat or if I had physically been punched in the neck. My mom really just went in on me in front of all of my ‘friends’ and family…. But guess what I’m doing now? I’m currently in school pursuing a nursing degree with hopes to walk on to the women’s b-ball team. Momma scared me straight back in the day, huh?

4. Being Unconditional

My mom has never stopped loving me, and honestly, I’m shocked. Has she ever wanted to rip my hair out as I stomped my muddy feet up the just-cleaned, white, carpeted stairs and slammed the door while screaming “THIS HOUSE SUCKS!!!” because I couldn’t hang out with my friends? Yes. Has she ever wanted to kick me out of the house because I was making all of the wrong choices in life that led to disappointment? I’m sure she has.

But has she ever stopped loving me after causing her so much stress and anger? Absolutely not. Wanna know why? Because at the end of the day she will always be MY MOMMY; I will always be her baby girl, the other half of her. She carried my big head around for 9 months; She’s felt my heart beat inside of her tummy; She use to give me baths in the sink while saying “who’s this beautiful baby!” She was the first person to ever even know ABOUT me; And at the end of the day, she’s the only person who truly knows ME. In other words, unconditional love is the foundation of a mother and her child together; It’s something that can never be broken, have limitations, conditions, or exceptions added on to it.

Mommy will always love you, to the moon and back x millions… and we’ll always love you x billions!

5. For Being My First Best Friend

Newborn: *smiles at mommy*

4 years old: “Mommy, I want to read this book now.”

8 years old: “Mom, can we go the movies?”

Hey, BFF! No seriously, Ma, you’re my Best Friend FOREVER. Shout out to you for being THE MOST LOYAL friend in the game! 9 months BEFORE I was even on this earth you fed me, talked to me, comforted me... took care of me. Where do they do that at? Your tummy, obvi. Remember when I was a baby and you use to sing random songs to me and wiggle my hands around to make me giggle? What about when you would blast the Spice Girls in the family room as we jumped up and down? We would just sit and play for hours together, whether it be with my American Girl dolls or Barbies; You would use different voices to make it seem realer. You always kept me fed, happy, and clean… I mean I know you’re my mommy, but no one said you HAD to be my best friend too! You would read book after book just to satisfy me; You would paint with me for hours even though I only knew how to scribble; You would listen to my random songs about cats and your hair as I played notes on the guitar; You would brush my hair every morning, making sure I was the prettiest girl at school. You were my FIRST best friend mommy, and will always be my best friend forever.

So, as you sit on your phone, computer, iPad.. whatever you’re on… maybe put it down. Get in your car. Drive to your mom AND GIVE HER THE BIGGEST HUG IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. I’M TALKING ROB KARDASHIAN BIG!!!! - Sorry, but what's an article today w/o mentioning a Kardashian? hehe.