Mom,
We've gone through so much these past 20 years, and I don't know what I'd do without you.
When I was little, I was hands-down a daddy's girl. I would always follow daddy around, play dress-up and put on dad's shoes to walk around the house in, sit next to dad, piggyback on dad's shoulders instead of hold mom's hand in a park, take more photos with dad, etc. I've never loved you less, mom, but you had Justin.
It's kinda funny how those things work out. You must know the sayings "Momma's boy" & "Daddy's girl". Well, they sometimes turn out to be true! When my mom and I fought, I went to my dad. Even as a teenager, I went to my dad and asked his advice because I argued too much with my mom. I think it was just a 'girl getting on my nerves' thing, but I always kissed up to my dad because "I'd always be Daddy's little girl". I mean c'mon, my first word was dad (okay, my first word was actually 'shoe', but dad was second). I've always had this relationship with my dad, and the one with my mom didn't come in until later.
All teenagers go through this defiant stage where they roll their eyes at their mom, don't want to listen to them, get annoyed easily and storm off, get embarrassed to be seen with them in public; all that jazz. Well, my phase lasted until I was 18. Pretty scary, right? After I became a senior in high school and I really started appreciating my mom more and more, we found ways to bond that my dad and I couldn't: shopping (that's a big one and always will be), getting our nails done, tanning at the pool, scrapbooking, stuff like that. I would talk with my mom, ask for life advice, and learn the things she knew in order for me to follow her footsteps and be a good mom someday.
Now since I've gone away to college, I really fully grasp what my mom does for our family. She cooks for us, she does our laundry for us willingly, she cleans the whole house, she pays bills like any adult, she has a 8:30-5:30pm job and wants to get a second one even, she clothes shops plus grocery shops for all 4 of us, she takes care of our 10 year old cat, she stays up late to talk to me if I need it, and most of all? My mom makes sure we're happy. She is the ultimate sacrificer and giver. She loves our family and will never stop providing.
I don't know what I'd do without my mom. I am terrified of the day I'm 60 years old and she's gone... I'm getting emotional just thinking about it. Who will explain to me how to get stains out of my clothes, who will tell me all the different times to put different foods into the microwave, who will teach me how to cook meals, who will listen to me rant about guy problems or school issues, who will help me when I have kids of my own and I don't know how to raise them, who will bring me the right medicine I need when I'm sick, who will constantly be there for me when I have no friends to turn to? My mother is the most amazing woman I've ever met in my life and I'm getting slapped in the face with this realization at the age of 20. I wish it came much sooner.
To all the girls out there: LOVE YOUR MOM. You are your mother's baby, she gave birth to you! She is protective of you and there for you 24/7; you just need to take advantage of it. Mothers really do know best, and mine has never let me down. I love you so much, momma. (Shoutout to Lee Anne).
