Dear Mom,

This is my 21st Mother’s Day. For 21 years, you’ve been one of the biggest influences in my life and I know that me being away at college has made it a little harder to see you as often. I hope you know that I will always be thankful for everything that you’ve done. I have 21 years of memories and lessons to go on that you've given to me without me even realizing it.

I remember the moment I got into college, you were the first person that I called. Kind of like my first day at kindergarten. You always told me I wasn’t nervous but more so excited to go into the next chapter of my life. All my life I feel like you’ve been the one who was more nervous for me to go off than I was and I didn’t get it. I didn't get that being a mother is a constant battle of wanting your child to be independent but also want to protect them from the world.

I understand that it was just your motherly instincts wanting to protect me from everything you could. Wanting to prevent the boo-boos and bruises but allowing me to gain the wings I needed to survive and thrive. I can't say that I have all the answers, but I think that I'm getting the ones I need right now. Being a semi-adult now, I sometimes still wish you could protect me and give me all the answers. I know that when things are going horribly wrong in my life or I’m going through one of my lost moments you would fix it for me if you could.

I know I don’t say it often but I’m thankful for everything that you do. I’m thankful for you being the person that I know will always be there whenever the road gets tough. You’re the person that I call when I don’t know what to do for an interview. You’re the one I call when I need help making one of your recipes even though they’ll never be as good as yours. You’re the one I call when I just need someone to listen without judging. You’re my person.

Looking out at towards my future, I hope that I can be half the mother that you were to my future children. Watching you over the years I now know that motherhood is a sacrifice. You give up so much for your children in the hopes of giving them the best life possible. I now know that motherhood is a constant job. You're always going to be on the job regardless of how old your child gets or where they go in life.

So, thank you. Thank you for everything you've done and everything that you have taught me. As I get older I want you always know that no matter how far I may go or where my path leads you'll always be my number one person and I hope that I make you proud. I love you.