Mom,

I want to start off by saying that you’re a saint. Raising my brother and I could not have been the easiest thing you’ve ever had to do. From the time I was a young girl, I always felt the need to have it my way. Whether that meant arguing, complaining, or crying for hours on end, I always (for some unknown reason) felt I needed to control everything. As I grow up, I see that "my way" isn't the way it's meant to be most of the time. In fact, what I didn't realize until recently is that you had lived life before me and you were just trying to keep me from making careless mistakes. Throughout my 19 years on this earth, I’ve admired your great strength, simple elegance, and playful humor. I have truly been blessed to have such a beautiful role model in my life.

I want you to know that I still love you even when I say I hate you. Although we may occasionally bump heads, I know you’re trying to help me. Whether it be a simple problem or a more complex issue, you seem to always have my best interest in mind. You open my eyes to new perspectives and ways of thinking. This tends to be hard for me because I was 'gifted' with thick-headedness. Through your thoughtful advice, I have been able to stand up for myself during the tough times and grow from my mistakes. You taught me how to take responsibility for my actions and to be able to admit when I was wrong. This is something not many people can do and you do it with such ease. This is something I will always cherish.

I’m sorry for under appreciating everything you’ve done for me. You’ve sacrificed so much in your life to allow me to live mine to the fullest. Thank you for sitting through three basketball games per day every weekend when you could be out doing things you enjoy more. Thank you for supporting me at each of my field hockey games and learning all of the rules... even if there were about a thousand whistles a minute. Thank you for driving me to the movies when I wasn’t old enough to drive myself. Thank you for sitting down to study with me each day when I was younger so that I could take advantage of my education and maintain good study habits. Thank you for putting up with my attitude on my worst days, especially because it was never your fault that I was acting that way. Thank you for taking every single embarrassing picture of me and putting them all over Facebook because they’ve made for some of the best memories. Thank you for not getting too mad (most of the time) when I ran to dad after you said no to me; You know as well as I do how tempting it is not to be a 'daddy’s girl.'

However, it’s about time you start putting yourself first.

Do what you want once in a while instead of sacrificing yourself to do what others want. I’ve been forced to do this thing called 'growing up' for some time now. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about life in this new phase it’s this: time is precious. We are not guaranteed time on this earth, only gifted with it. I want you to spend your precious time with the people who love you. Continue to create amazing memories. I know you love pictures, but it’s not the still photographs that will bring you the most joy. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I believe it is through the pictures where you’re legitimately laughing and having a good time that bring you the most happiness. Yeah, you may think you don’t look “good” or “pretty enough” or you may even have “seventeen chins”, but I will always think you’re beautiful. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.

As I sit in my college dorm room nearly four hours away from you, I want you to know I miss you and love you constantly (even if it doesn’t always seem it). I want you to know how proud I am to have you as my mother. I hope you’re proud to be my mother, as well. I’d like to think you did a pretty damn good job raising me, too. You inspire me each and every day, and I am so glad to have you in my life. Thank you for letting me be myself.

Love always,

“Child”