It is impossible to put into words everything I should be thankful for.

A lot of people may think being raised by a single parent is the worst, but it's the complete opposite. My mom has taught me to be tough, to stick up for myself and to love myself and never give up. I get to watch Wonder Woman in action every day, tell me that doesn't sound like the coolest gig in the world. This has to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. Being a mother is no doubt hard enough, but when you have to be dad too is when it gets really difficult. I am not a mom yet, but I know from personal experience that when you have to play both roles it takes a lot out of you especially having more than one kid! I have to praise those women who think sometimes their love isn't enough!! It is! Trust me! You have to give your heart more than everyone else because you need to fill two shoes. I don’t quite know how you do it, but you continue to amaze me every single day and I could never be more grateful.

Dear Mommy,

I can’t even start to thank you for all that you’ve done for me over the years. I know it’s been a hard task to do alone, but you succeeded and quite well if I can say. You are my mother, my father, and my biggest role model and everything I am is because of you. You took on the challenge of raising me and my siblings by yourself without complaint or hesitation, because that's what parents do. And let me just say, you killed it. I have so much respect for single parents because doing this whole parenting thing alone cannot be easy. To me, you’re not only my mom; you’re the strongest woman I know. You constantly showed me to find the good in life, even when it was even hard to find yourself. I know being a single mom was difficult. You make it look easy to balance work, three crazy kids, and your own personal struggles, even when I knew it wasn’t. Your selfless manner is one of the many reasons I will always look up to you.

I know I wasn't always the best child and I'm sure I made it harder than it needed to be. Regardless of said sassiness, I can't imagine my life any other way. I used to envy my friends that had both parents because it was something I never got to experience. But then I realized I have something they don't - you. The mom that was both parents when I needed it, the mom that puts her children before herself and the mom that will be my maid of honor when the time comes. I don't need both parents because I've got you.

Everything I do is to make you proud and to try and give you back even a fraction of what you have given me. You deserve the world so I'm getting it for you. Most importantly though, thank you for accepting me for who I am. I know we've gone through some tough times, but you've never stopped loving me and I'm so thankful for that. Your undying support in any and all things I do means more to me then I could ever tell you. Knowing you support my dreams motivates me to work harder every day.

Ever since I was small, you taught me that loving myself and always being kind to others are the most important relationships I need in my life.

Senior year is quickly approaching and next thing you know I’ll be off to college. It is going to stir up a whirlwind of emotions for both of us. All I am thinking about is how I am going to be able to count my money to buy food and how I am going to be able to open the “pull” doors without you there?

One of the most important things that I am learning from you as I am getting older is that I need to be fiercely independent and that I don't need a man to validate my worth; that I have worth just being my own beautiful, unique self.

Growing up with a single parent is not the perfect storybook situation, but when it is a single mom like you, I do not need a story like situation. The strength, unconditional love, and support that you gave me and continue to give me is more than any two parents can ever fulfill. I never looked at having a single-parent as a disadvantage, because I got to brag about how amazing my one parent was. I can’t tell you enough how much it means to me that you are always next to me with a smile on your face, encouraging me to be the best person I can possibly be.

You deserve to treat yourself and give yourself the best of everything. If I could take the weight of the world off your shoulders, and instead offer it to you on a silver platter, I would. I just want you to remember that despite how awful everything is going, and how worthless you feel, that you are a fabulous woman, that you are a beautiful woman, that you are the best woman to ever walk this planet in my eyes. I know that I don’t say it often enough, but thank you. Thank you for wiping the tears from my face, and putting a smile in their place. Thank you for working as hard as you do, some days where you feel like it’s not even worth it, so that I can have every chance in the world to succeed. Thank you for being the strongest and most incredible woman I know. I love you Mom.

Love,

Your sometimes sassy and whiney, but forever grateful daughter.