It didn't take long, living on my own (and not in a dorm), to realize how insanely smart my mom is, at literally anything. I think in the span of 10 seconds after they left, I'd already called with some desperate question or concern. Everyday I come across something that makes me think "WWMD". I definitely don't tell her enough that she's the smartest person I know, but that's not the only thing I forget to tell her as often as I should.

You're stronger than I ever realized. After going through my own little struggles, I've thought of everything you've had to overcome, in simply my lifetime. You've taken on every weight I've ever carried onto your own shoulders, and done so with grace and a spine of steel. Regardless of the battle, you've gone through it, and come out an inspiration to me to be strong through my own.

You've been the best listener. If I call late at night, and you've already hit the sack for the day, you never fail to answer to listen to the story of how I burned my toast. It doesn't matter what you're doing, whenever I reach out to you for help with setting up doctors appointments or to tell you about my day, you'll listen as if it were the most important thing in your day. You've never made me feel like I bother you with my relationship questions, or like I'm annoying you with tedious questions about rent checks.

I want to make you so proud. So much of what I do, I do because you've inspired me. You've shown and taught me that hard work is the only way to succeed, and I remember that every day. I want to one day wake up and look back and not only be proud myself, but for you to be proud of how far I've come and where I will still go.

You're unbelievably selfless. Going along those same lines, I've been blinded by my own wants that I rarely have taken into account how much you've sacrificed and given up for me to be where I am today. You've put your own dreams on hold to be my biggest fan in mine. Without you by my side I would have never been able to achieve the things I have, and I owe so much of my success to you.

I miss you more than you know. You've been my best friend, by my side through thick and thin from the beginning. This is the first time I've been more than a few miles from you, and I feel like a part of my heart is missing. You're too far for coffee in the morning, or late night criminal mind binges, and it doesn't feel right. Even though I'm working toward my own life and future, I can't wait to come back home to you.

I love you. I could never tell you this enough. I could never tell you how amazing or incredible you are, but you'll always be my hero. I could never tell you how much I appreciate you or the things you do/have done for me, but I'll never forget them. You're one of the best things and one of the greatest people in my life. Thank you for all you do, thank you for being my mom, and just know, you rock.