Hey Mom,

I know when I’m at school we don’t get to talk every day, but I think about you all the time. Each day that goes by I find myself resembling you more and more. I’m falling into your habits—the good and the bad… oops. I can’t wash dishes or do laundry without thinking about you, and every time I see a great sale, you’re the first person on my mind. You’re kind of responsible for everything about me, actually. From the morals I’ve developed to my perception of the world and things I care about, you’ve always been the biggest influence on me. Life is busy but there’s no excuse for not thanking you for everything you’ve done for me enough. I want you to know that I haven’t forgotten a single thing you’ve done.

I still remember the wet kisses you’d give as me I left for the bus stop in elementary school—the ones I had to wait to wipe off my face until I turned the corner. You always had the best after-school snacks, too. They were like fun little games: bologna faces and palm tree string cheeses. Old habits die hard.

When you’re young, being teased by your siblings is agonizing. Especially as the youngest child, it took me a while to believe my siblings didn’t hate me, and that my brother only messed with me so much because he got the reaction out of me that he wanted. Thank you for being persistent in teaching me that my siblings love me no matter how much they make fun of me. It took a while, but I get it now.

So I've been told I sweat a lot in my sleep. But those storms were scary, okay?! I’m sure my sweaty body and sprawled-out limbs took away from your ease of sleep, but you still let me in your bed every time anyway... Okay let’s be real. It was generous of you to let my storm-fearing 5-year-old self into your bed, but it’s even more generous of you to let my 20-year-old self into your bed after waking from a horrifying dream (yeah, that actually happens).

Every Halloween growing up you turned into my fairy godmother, transforming me into whatever my little heart desired. Miss Wisconsin? You got it. Dead princess bride? Done. If we couldn’t find it at a costume store, you were equipped with everything necessary to make just what I wanted.

High school was a definite roller coaster. Things were either going just the way I wanted them to or the exact opposite. You remember how high-strung homecoming and prom can make a girl, don't you? Somehow though, you dealt with my dramatic teenage self and worked countless hours to get me exactly what I needed. You made me and my date every corsage that all my friends envied, and you even glued/sewed well over 100 Swarovski crystals to my prom dress so that I liked it better. Talk about Super-Mom.

You were always the best person to vent to about someone pissing me off. No matter what I did right or wrong, you were on my side. If I didn’t like that drama-obsessed girl Shelly anymore, neither did you. This mother-daughter relationship is a package deal. If anyone disrespects you, I dislike them with you, just as much as we dislike my Biology teacher for giving me a C on that presentation.

You’ve always known best when it comes to the relationships I'm in. I’m sorry for not listening to you even when you knew what was best for me. I can’t imagine the frustration of seeing your kid make the same mistake time and time again. You were right about everything, and you still are. Your wisdom and words go a long way—I value with every inch of my body each piece of advice that you have given me.

You don’t ever put yourself first. I wish you would, but I still love this about you. You’ll come home with random articles of clothing for me that you found on sale, and you have an entire stockpile of things to give your grandchildren whether it’s a holiday or their birthdays or not. You are constantly thinking of ways to make other people smile, and I can only hope that I will be as good at that as you are one day.

You’re the first person I contact when I need anything: bad cough, weird bruises on my leg, stressed about school, or not sure how to set up a doctor’s appointment. You’re the ultimate go-to and somehow always have all the answers.

The best part about being away is that when I come home, you are ready for me. You have my all-time favorite homemade chili on the stove and my room is perfectly clean—just the way I didn’t leave it. Coming back and catching up on everything I’ve missed feels like catching up with your best friend you haven’t seen in a year.

Loving you is so easy, mom. From my first day of preschool sporting my awesome Pooh Bear backpack to move-in day freshman year of college (sporting my sweat-soaked tank top), you have never failed me. I feel ready for just about anything in life with you by my side. Your actions will never go unnoticed. I love you, and thank you.