If there's one person I'm really thankful to have in my life to help guide me and prepare me for life, it's my mother. She's been there for me since day one, supporting me and never doubting my abilities, and because she believed in me, I believed in myself that much more.

From the time I was a little girl, I remember how much my mom used to do for us. She would make sure the house was clean, that dinner was in the oven and that we did our homework on time. She made sure to get the laundry done so we had warm towels to step into after a shower before bed, and she always made sure to tuck us in at night and tell us she loved us.

Now that I'm older, I see how much my mom actually sacrificed for us and all that's she's taught me in the process. Putting us first is the best example. From the very first day, my mother has always done all that she could for us. When we were younger, she was a stay at home mom up until when I started kindergarten when she went back to work part time. She would continue to do all the housework and shopping, plus working and any extra errands. Not to mention she was always right by our side if any of her children needed her.

These days she works 55+ hours a week and hardly has any time to herself or to spend with her family like she would like to. She's overwhelmed, stressed and hates her job, but won't quit because she wants to continue to support us with my father to the best of their ability, regardless of how often we tell her that her own sanity is more important than her job. Rather, she continues to slave away for hours at work just to provide for us. Her work drains her, and very rarely does our house stay as clean as it used to, and rarely do good dinners get cooked on time. It's not that my family doesn't help with household duties, it's just simply without mom holding it all together as much as she used to, we tend to all get busy with school and work and we slack off, up until mom puts us back in our place.

However now we realize how much my mom really does for our family and how much she sacrifices herself for us. Ultimately we appreciate every little thing she does for us even more. The amount of time she spends slaving away at a job she hates, just to be able to provide for us. For dealing with all of our arguments and ridiculous demands over and over again and still being able handle us. Far too often I've seen her feel crushed by others saying she doesn't do enough yet she never fails to prove them wrong. She works non stop to make sure we are happy and cared for, and I couldn't be more thankful and appreciative for her selflessness to put her family first.

She holds the family together, and without her endless determination my family wouldn't be where we are today. She's taught me so much of what it means to be a woman and what it means to stand up for what you believe in, and I'm so proud to be her daughter. She's been there through thick and thin and without her ambition, I wouldn't be half the woman I am today without her. If there's one person who can handle everything life throws at her and some, it's my mother; and I couldn't be more thankful and lucky to have her as my role model, my best friend and most importantly, my mother.

So thank you, Mom, for all and everything that you do, because truth be told, I'd be lost without you.