"It's all about the first person you want to tell your good news to."

For me, this person is my mom.

Whether I have good news, have had a bad day, or simply need someone to talk to, I can always rely on my mom. She possesses all of the qualities that I hope to possess someday and for that she will always be my role model. So Mom, know that your actions do not go unnoticed and that everything I've learned from you has shaped me into the person I am today. Here are a few of the many lessons I've learned from my mom...

1. The earlier, the better.

Mom: “Em you almost ready for mass?”
Me: “Doesn’t it start at 5? It’s 3:30.”
Mom: “Yeah but it’s going to be packed tonight!”
Me: “Ugh fine.”

*Angrily throws on a semi-decent looking outfit and throws hair up into a pony*

If mass starts at 5, the latest we’ll be there is 4. I’m all too familiar with that awkward hour that consists of the Gendreau clan sitting alone in church because Mom said it would be busy. She is also usually the first one up in the morning at the crack of dawn, ready to take on the day. My mom is early in the sense that she plans ahead for everything. It’s never too early to start planning for the summer in December or planning for a vacation a year before. I’ve inherited this desire to plan ahead and even though my friends sometimes make fun of me for figuring out the weekend plans the Monday before, I wouldn’t want it any other way because it’s what my mom does.

2. Material things aren’t everything.

Like most girls my age, it’s all about the brand names and making sure that everyone sees that silver reflective Lululemon symbol on your leggings so they know you spent $100 on pants. Or the red and white Hunter symbol on your rain boots that you’re excited to show off every time it rains. The list goes on: Patagonia, Vera Bradley, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton… But why do we care so much? I admit I have gotten caught up in having the best, most trendy clothes and accessories but lately I’ve been wondering what it’s all for. My mom has always laughed at me when I give her ideas for what to get me for Christmas because most of the time they’re all brand names. She reminisces on the times when she asked my grandma for a specific brand of something but received the knock-off because it was cheaper, so why spend more money on the same thing? She had a point. My mom would rather spend her money on experiences like family vacations that bring us all together. Instead of worrying about having the most recent iPhone, my mom would rather sit at the end of the dock at the cabin and watch the sunrise with coffee in hand.

3. Hard work pays off.

Both of my amazing parents have stressed this one immensely. We even have a little wooden box in our living room with the words “The Key to Success” written on the outside that, when opened, reveals the words “Hard Work." My parents are living proof that if you want something bad enough, all it takes is hard work and dedication. Both of them attended Notre Dame for college and my dad went on to law school to become a lawyer while my mom went on to medical school to become a doctor. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today without growing up with these two as my role models.

4. Be genuine.

My mom is one of the most genuine, down to earth people I have ever met. She can start up a conversation with anyone she comes into contact with and is 100-percent her true self right off the bat. She never puts on a different face for anyone because she realizes that life is too short to not express who you really are. Nothing about her is fake and I strive to possess this same quality.

5. Be selfless.

This might be the most important thing I’ve learned from my mom. She always goes out of her way to help people and for that I will always look up to her. If it’s a Friday night and she’s already in her pajamas at 8 p.m. watching Downton Abbey and my brother needs to be picked up somewhere, she won’t even think twice about going to get him. If I need something to be dropped off at school, she won’t hesitate to plan her whole day around trying to get it to me. Her unwavering selflessness never ceases to amaze me.

6. Driving a minivan can sometimes be cool.

Key word: sometimes. Even though a minivan screams stay at home soccer mom, she works it. I make fun of the van constantly because it’s obviously not the most stylish choice, but she doesn’t care. She takes pride in her silver Honda Odyssey. I still refuse to drive it, but because of her, I have realized that sometimes it can be cool (just not when I drive it).

7. Food brings people together.

When I lived at home, we had family dinner almost every night. When I was younger, I took this for granted but now that I’m living on my own I realize how difficult it is to prepare a meal for myself, much less a healthy meal for a family of four every night. Our family dinners are what made our family so close. We could talk about the funny moments of our days, what our schedules are like coming up, and it just gave us an opportunity to bond and say what was on our minds. My mom has realized that, in order to get me to come home, all she has to do it tell me what she’s making for dinner and before she knows it, I’m walking through the door.

8. You can never read too much.

Walk through my house at any point during the night and I bet you will see my mom intently reading one of her million books. If you think I’m exaggerating, you should see her collection in our basement! I’m always impressed by how fast she can read and how she juggles reading several books at one time effortlessly. She’s inspired me to try and read whenever possible because I know how beneficial it can be. Reading gives you an insight into someone else’s mind, someone else’s story. It lets you, for a few moments, gain insight into other cultures and people.

Some girls fear turning into their moms as they get older, but I aspire to be exactly like mine when I grow up.