Hey Mom,

Growing up I had a variety of friends. Some had relationships with their siblings like I couldn’t believe, and some didn’t. Many of my friends had parents who were married, and some of them had parents who were divorced. Some were close as could be to their grandparents, and some weren’t. However, there was one type of friend that I never had. I never had a friend whose mom came anywhere near as great as mine. Call me biased, sure, but I truly believe I was given the best of the best. You, Mom, are incredible. I hope you know how much you mean to me, and if not, here’s a little reminder.

I have never met anyone like you. Mom, you are unlike anyone I have ever met. You are selfless, but know at times that it is okay to be selfish. You are kind, yet you never let anyone take advantage of you. You are smart - smart enough to realize there are still things you don’t know. You are strong but have your moments of weakness. You are brave but not fearless. You are so beautiful but will never let that thought go to your head. Mom, you are extraordinary. I aspire to be like you every single day. You have no idea.

Everything I have learned, I learned from you. When I was nine months old, you taught me how to walk. At the age of five you taught me school wasn’t that scary of a place. When I was 14 you helped me with the concept of makeup, and when I was 17 you drilled into my head that boys aren’t everything, that I can be happy without them. I am pretty sure 95 percent (come on, we have to give dad some credit) of what I have learned throughout my life, I have learned from you. You have taught me everything, Mom, everything except how I am ever suppose to live without you.

You are my best friend. Anyone who knows me knows how special you are to me. They know I classify you as my other half. They know I call you five times a day, even after the third time you told me to stop because you were at work. Anyone who knows me knows you are my best friend. Want to know what is great about this? Because anyone who knows you knows I am your other half just as much as you are mine. They know that even though you told me to stop calling, you will answer the phone anyway. They know I am your best friend, too. You are my biggest fan, my mentor and my person. I’m lucky enough to have you as my mom, but I am even luckier to have you as my best friend.

Eventually, I will leave you. There will come a time when I no longer will live in your house. I won’t ask you to buy me certain foods when you go to the grocery store, nor will I eat what you make for dinner that night. I won’t be there anymore. I will move out, buy my own place and start a new chapter of my life. You will no longer be in the room across the hall. I will no longer barge into your room, sit on your bed and watch "Grey's Anatomy" with you while we eat popcorn. I will be gone. But Mom, wherever I go, whether it is six miles down the road or six states across the country, there will always be a spare bed, a bottle of red wine and "Grey’s" on DVD in my house, just for you. Always.

Thank you, Mom. Thank you for everything you have done for me throughout the years. Thank you for doing my laundry and for putting the dishes in the dishwasher when I forgot to. Thank you for driving me to school when I missed the bus and for picking me up after all my meetings. Thank you for coming to every track meet, rain or shine, and always being the loudest mom in the stands. Thank you for comforting me when I was sad but always lifting me up and setting me back on my feet afterward. Thank you for answering every phone call, text and email as fast as you possibly could. Thank you for making me a priority. Thank you, Mom, for everything. You will never be able to understand how much you mean to me.

I love you. I love you, Mom, on your good days and on the bad ones. I love you whether you or mad at me or I am mad at you. I love all that you are, all that you stand for and all that you believe in. I love the compassion you have for others and the drive you have for yourself. I love your quirkiness and your ability to hold a conversation with a stranger as if you have been friends your whole life. I love everything about you, Mom. I love you so much.

I know as soon as you see this you will call me and express how mad you are at me for making you cry at work. Then you will be sentimental and thank me for being your daughter. You will tell me how proud you are of the woman I am becoming, and you will say the four words you have been telling me my whole life. You will say, “I love you more.” But Mom, there is something you need to know.

I love you most.

Xoxo,

Your daughter