Dear Mom,
Hi there! You asked me what I was writing about this week and I told you that I had a lot of things I was thinking about writing about. That was true. I was planning to write "Why I Go To So Many Concerts" or "An Open Letter To Parents Who Don't Let Their Kids Live," but as I began to write these drafts, I kept coming back to writing about you. About how I am so blessed that Kitchen Jesus picked you to be my mom. That you decided to raise me with an open mind and an open heart. That you taught me how to be a good person. Oh, Mom. I am so thankful for you.
Thanks for taking care of me all these years. You are a rockstar and I mean it. You single-handedly moved us to Alabama and made it our home. You did that. You. By yourself. Amazing. 10 years ago, if you would have asked me if I liked Alabama, I would have said "Oh, hell no." (Well not exactly that but you get the point) Now if you ask me if I like Alabama, sometimes I may say no, but most of the time I say yes. Honestly, Alabama is the best thing that ever happened to me. It's brought me friends and opportunities that I would have never had if we had stayed in Texas.
You were in the army. Like you're actually my hero. You're everyone's hero. You served your country and you became a mom. You took me with you when you had to go places. And when it got to be too much, you retired. You've done so much for me. Sacrificed so much for me, all while being literally the best and coolest mom in the whole world.
But when I want to go somewhere or try something new, you're almost always up for it. I've gone to tons of concerts, gone to so many places, and made so many memories because of you. I'm going to college because of you. I'm well educated because of you. I have great friends because you. I'm everything I am because of who you are. And that needs to be celebrated.
You ate at Logan's when I worked there just to see me in action. You don't even really like Logan's. You went to scary emo concerts with me because I was a tiny child who had to go and you wanted me to be happy. You let me straighten my hair even though you love my hair just the way it is. You tell me I'm beautiful even when I think I look like a toad. You use Facebook and snapchat. You do your best to "keep up with the times," and honestly, you're really awesome at it. You read my articles and you share them. When my friends started calling me Shan, you called me Shan. You cook things with me and for me. You give me money even though we both know I'm a spoiled brat. I can be anything I want to be because you've helped pave the way for me, but you also taught me that I have to work hard. You are my favorite person in the whole wide world. Literally.
Thank you so much for being the best mom a girl could ever ask for.
I love you with all my heart,
Shan
