To the mom of your friend group, a.k.a- the friend with the maternal side that can't be hidden.

Thank you for being the calm to every storm, and the voice of reason in a world of crazy college students. Thank you for reminding me to never leave a cup unattended, and for not letting me skip Organic Chemistry two days in a row. I may have ugly cried when you told me that the Mr. Right was all wrong, but thanks for loving me enough to be honest.

To your best friend's mom, a.k.a- your childhood best friend's parent who served as your 2nd mom many times.

Thanks for letting me have way more Coke than my mom ever would, and thanks for always making breakfast when I stayed over. I should also say thanks for picking me up from cheerleading practice when my mom couldn't make it, and thanks for always setting an extra plate at dinner because you knew I would probably show up at some point. I appreciate you taking in another child and treating me just like one of your own.

To your sibling mom, a.k.a- the sibling that feels inclined to be your mom because they feel like sometimes your shared mom just doesn't cut it.

Thanks for taking me shopping because you know mom and I can't make it through Old Navy without a cage match, and thanks for yelling at me until you were blue in the face but still not telling on me for all those things you inevitably found out about. Thanks for giving me nephews to be a mom to, even though I always thought I would just be the cool aunt. I admit life would've been a whole lot easier if you'd stuck to being a sister, but I'm really glad you didn't.

To your mom's mom, a.k.a- your grandma.

Thanks for teaching me how to sit like a lady when my mom had given up, and thanks for being the only person I could tell on my mom to, and never failing to reassure me that you would in some way punish your 45 year old daughter for not letting me watch my favorite show. Thanks for always reminding me to, "love em and leave em" when it came to boys, and not questioning when I wanted cookies and French fries for dinner…everyday. Lastly, thanks for raising the closest person to a saint that I know, and birthing the most amazing women I know.

To your mom, (the real one this time).

Thanks for sharing me with all of these other wonderful women and being humble enough to know that it indeed does take a village. Thanks for holding my hand on my first day of kindergarten, and letting go on my first day of college. Thanks for crying enough for the both of us that day, and thanks for never forgetting to remind me how proud you are of me. Thanks for holding me together all of those times when I felt broken, but reminding me constantly that this too shall pass and telling me to hold my head high, no matter what. Thank you for loving me at my lowest point, and reminding me to stay humble at my highest. You believe in me, and you love me, and you hold me close to your heart, whether I'm 200 miles away, or right up the stairs.