Dear Mom,

Over the years, you, Dad and I have had the running joke that you are both the left and right brain of our family unit. Despite the lighthearted nature of the joke, it is also laced with the undeniable truth that without you, we would not function as smoothly and efficiently as we do, and we certainly would be missing a key feature in our dynamic.

One of the reasons that I admire you is because you continuously build bridges to help people cross over the difficult parts of their lives. Regardless of what is going on in your life at the moment, you are someone who is ready and more than willing to listen when myself, a friend or another family member needs to talk things out or get some advice. Your advice and the perspective that you offer are consistently reliable, and if you think that someone will regret his or her actions, you are not afraid to let that person know so that he or she can avoid any disastrous outcomes.

I was always close to you and Dad while growing up, but I had different relationships with the two of you. While I often consider Dad to behave like an insolent younger brother, you were and continue to be a confidant and perhaps the closest thing that I have to an older sister, while still maintaining the boundary line that is crucial in a healthy mother-daughter dynamic. Your quick wit and dry remarks can put anyone to shame and don’t even get me started on the hilarity that can be found with you at the end of the night when we are both tired. I’ve never had such a hilarious experience than when we went to see Taylor Swift at MetLife Stadium last summer and after over 12 hours of nothing to eat, we struggled to escape the parking spot and get to the diner for some food.

You are unfalteringly kind to all those that you meet and that aspect of your personality is severely underappreciated. You don’t judge people based on other’s perceptions of them and even to those whom you may not like, you maintain a level of respect that is unparalleled to anyone else that I know. You strive to respect and do what’s best for all of those around you, especially the countless students that you have taught and mentored over the years, and even though I wish that you thought more about what is best for yourself, your actions are admirable and are ones that more people should try to emulate.

Thank you for being a constant in my life. Even during our worst arguments and most painful fights, I’ve grown more aware that when you’re mad, the root of that anger is based on love and the desire to protect me from anyone who can hurt me and I appreciate that more than I can put into words. My only wish is that you could see the light that you bring to others on a daily basis. I couldn’t imagine a life without you or Dad and I thank God every day that the two of you are the parents that I was blessed with receiving.

Happy birthday and lots of love.