There is no denying that moms are special beyond words. Not only did they bring us into this world, but they've stood by us through it all, and will stand by us for many years to come.
My mom is a beautiful, strong woman who my sisters and I have always looked up to. With her honesty, tough love and ideals, she has made me who I am and taught me everything I know about life. Though I still have much to learn, I know I can always turn to her for help and guidance.
Among many things my mom has taught me is what it means to be a girl. I know that sounds strange, but it's true; she taught me what it means to be a woman in this world. I remember watching her every morning as she'd put on he black eyeliner and red lipstick. She'd brush out her long, straight charcoal hair and spray herself with white musk perfume, my favorite scent. I remember thinking that she was beautiful. I remember wanting to be like her and wanting to be an adult just so I could paint my face and look pretty too. While my friends would feel embarrassed when people compared them to their moms, hearing that I looked like her was the most flattering thing. She also taught be to be elegant. She taught me that elegance isn't only about what you wear, it's about how you act. It means being kind, polite and respectful. She taught me how to dress. My mom has the best clothes, and as a 6-year-old, I loved staying in her room and watching her pick out her outfits. I would try on her black heels and hope one day to wear her black dress. Now that I am old enough, I always borrow her stuff and take her shopping with me because there's no one whose opinion I trust more.
My mom showed me what true and unconditional love looks like. She's shown me that when you love someone, you have to put your needs second and make sacrifices for them to be happy. Their happiness is what matters the most. My mom's done this all her life. She's worked tirelessly so that my siblings and I could have a good life filled with opportunities for a bright future. She's shown me the value of loyalty. My parents have been together for over 20 years, and their strength, love and teamwork is what drives me each day to be a good person who chooses to see the best in people and who chooses to trust. Their relationship is what gives me the drive to know that I can find that for myself too and that true love does exist. They've also shown me that true love isn't only between a man and his wife but it can be between two sisters, a mother and her child, a father and his child or two friends.
She taught me to be tough, that to be my own person and always follow my heart no matter what others say. She said that it was OK to disagree with others and that, no matter what, I'm always entitled to my opinion. She taught me to stand up for others and for what I believe is right. She always warned be that I'd encounter challenges, and she taught me that it is OK to stress out or freak out. But she's always told me that everything will work out in the end, and there is nothing that can't be fixed.
She's taught me to have big goals and big dreams. Being born and raised in Italy, she's always dreamed of living in the U.S., and when we moved, she proved to me that dreams do come true. All you have to do is work. She's always said that things can't just be handed to me, I have to be deserving. My favorite saying is, "Practice makes perfect." She tells me this frequently, and it is what motivates me to push myself closer to reaching my goals.
There's nothing in the world that I can do to repay my mom for everything she's done. I know I am so lucky to have grown up in such a beautiful, strong family, and I just hope one day I can be the woman she is.
