As we trudge through the last few weeks of school, the culminating stress of moving out, finding a summer job, and avoiding total GPA devastation is mounting. However, though there is no way to rid your life of stress completely, there's one remedy that always provides temporary calmness and relief for me, and that's calling my mom. Although for some this act only increases irritation and frustration, I personally always feel remarkably better after having what was supposed to be a “quick chat,” but is more typically a one-hour conversation with my mom. I completely understand that my relationship with my mom doesn’t exactly apply to all families. Even so, if you relate to just one of the many reasons I’m profoundly grateful for my mother and our relationship, it might be worth it to give yours a call.

Although I somewhat believe the theory that mothers aren’t human and may be tangible proof that magic exists, the real reason I call my mom is because there's truly no better listener. With us, there’s no filter. I can be honest about my current mood, about how school is overwhelming, or about how friends, professors, and overall responsibilities are stressing me out. The choice I’ve made to let myself be vulnerable when talking to my mom has made me value our relationship that much more. I can brag without feeling guilty or awkward about how I did my laundry three weeks in a row or how I aced a midterm. I tell her about my adventures, about the people I’ve met, or even just about how I watched an entire season of Shameless in less than a week. In other words, we can pretty much talk about anything. Over the past few years, the more I’ve shared with my mom has only lead her to open up to me more about her own experiences. This level of comfort we share has made our relationship that much deeper. To me, she’s not only the person that raised me and reminds me about my relatives’ birthdays, but she’s also one of my best friends and closest confidants.

In addition to being amazing listeners, moms also give the kind of advice that you realize should have been obvious to you, but that you weren’t able to come up with on your own. On countless occasions, my mom has given me the words I so desperately needed to hear. When I’m sometimes too frazzled to regain perspective, my mom will say something brilliant or even simple, and things will steady for a bit. Though they will inevitably become chaotic again because that’s just college, I can at least find comfort in those few genuine words of support. Moms are not always right, but they are most of the time; well, at least mine is with astounding consistency. I cherish her advice with this in mind, and though I’m not always successful in completely following her guidance, it’s always reassuring to hear. My mom is someone who believes in me when I’m plagued with self-doubt; she’s someone who just simply tells me "you can do this". Though I have friends and people in my life who empower me and push me to feel confident in myself, sometimes you just need to hear it from someone who knows you better than anyone. Also sometimes, you just need a reminder that if you fail, you are still loved unconditionally.

Though my mom is the absolute best at providing me with words of love and encouragement, she also tells me what I need to hear when I don’t want to hear it. As mentioned before, I can substantially lessen my filters when talking to my mom, and luckily for me, that goes both ways. My mom, like many mothers, will be wholly honest with me, and she won’t sugarcoat something that needs to be said. She’s the one that finally states the obvious, such as “you’ve been sick for 5 weeks, maybe it’s time to see the doctor," or even the occasional "you should probably start your paper earlier next time." Though this may frustrate me for a moment, the conversation almost always ends with a whole-hearted, “you’re right.” My mom really isn't the nagging type, so when she goes there, I know to take it into real consideration. Though I don’t often say this to her, I’m grateful for these seldom unwanted but always essential pieces of wisdom.

Lastly, there’s one thing my mother almost never fails to do, and that’s to make me laugh. I unsurprisingly have adopted a very similar sense of humor to that of both my parents, who both unsurprisingly think they are the funnier being. Luckily for me, this shared humor between my mom and I makes for a joyous and unbreakable bond, and for phone-calls consistently filled with laughter. Whether it’s some crazy story about her life or some absurd and embarrassing event in mine, we never resist the chance to sass one another relentlessly, or just to simply find the hilarity in the world around us. Even if I'm feeling terrible or my spirits are low at the start of our conservations, by the end of a phone-call with my mom, I’m pretty much always laughing.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I though it might be worth it to share how important staying in touch with one’s family is while away at college. I’ve been out of the house for two years now, and though I’ve gotten busier and our calls have dwindled down to a couple a month, I cherish every single talk with my mom. Her positive influence has never ceased to impact me, even from 400 miles away. Talking to your mom, dad or any relative keeps you connected to your family, aware of what’s going on with your loved-ones, and can instantly cure the occasional dose of homesickness. So, if you’re in need of some support, if you want to unapologetically vent, or if you simply just want to share the extraordinary things going on in your life with someone you love, don’t forget to occasionally give your mom a call.