Dear Mom,
Not too many people understand it. They’ll talk about their moms who are able to make them every meal, fetch them at any hour of the day, or are available 24/7. They don’t understand the waiting up late into the night, the art of starting dinner on your own, and definitely not what it’s like to have a businesswoman who doubles as a mom.
Mom, you are an icon. When kids would name off their role models as athletes, celebrities, or historians, I would name you. You still are my role model, and will continue to be until we are both gone. Everything about you embodies power, respect, intelligence, and leadership. Essentially, you are the women I want to be.
When I was younger and you had to work late, I’d wait up in your bed. I'd fight my tired eyes and count the minutes until you arrived home. When your car would pull up into the driveway, I’d fly down the stairs and wait by the front door. Running into you as you walked through the door, burying my face into your suit, and hugging you as tight as I can is something that I remember so clearly. People are under the impression that having a working mom is difficult, however, having you made me so happy. Those days where you burst through the door after a long day at work and still made dinner and tucked me in at night showed me how you were basically wonder-women.
While I may not have realized it when I was younger, I have come to realize your importance to the world and to other women. You defy odds. You are not apart of a statistic. You’re the boss lady- in my eyes, at least. You don’t let standards, or stereotypes fall in your way. I have a vision of myself: walking down a street, heels and suit on, talking on the phone about some important matter, and really just looking like the epitome of a hard working woman. I have realized this vision of myself is you. I want to be you. I inspire to be you.
You’ve always made time for me and you always pick up my calls. You’ve comforted me during complete breakdowns and have hugged me after successes. And when you couldn’t pick me up from lessons, or school, or clubs, you went out of your way to make sure I was taken care of. You’ve never failed me.
When people tell me I’m a “mini-me” of you, I take it as a compliment. I think of you: moving around the office, going to important appointments, providing employees with necessary information. And then I think of me doing all of those same things—and the thought makes me pretty happy.
I don’t know if you’re ever doubted not staying at home. Knowing how independent you are, you probably didn’t. But if at ever some point you did, you should know I am who I am today because of you. And I turned out okay. For the most part, that is. You taught me the meaning of independence. You showed me how to respect others. And most of all, you showed me that hard work truly does pay off.
I love having a working mom. You are a built-in role model that I never had to question. You get stuff done, you tell it how it is, and you really know how to rock a suit. Thank you for being the incredible woman you are. I only hope that one day I can be half as amazing as you.
Love,
Your daughter
