Dear Mami,

Jill Churchill once said, “There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.” And she was right. You have been an amazing mother in so many different ways. Everything you do, you do out of love.

You are wonderful. You give so much to not only me but everyone around you, as well. You’re always willing to lend a helping hand, no matter what’s going on in your personal life. You are beautiful. Not only inside but outside, as well.

Throughout our 18 years together, we have been through a lot of ups and downs. From Middle school to high school, dealing with familial deaths, applying and getting into college: We’ve been through it all together.

You have been my chauffeur, my cook and anything and everything else. But most important of all, you have been my mother. You have nurtured me and cared for me. You have taught me right from wrong. You have put my needs above yours. You have been everything a mom is supposed to be.

Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for putting up with me for 18 -- almost 19 -- years. I know it hasn’t been easy. I haven’t been easy. A lot of the time, I have been selfish and childish. Thank you for always driving me to school and to wherever I needed to go. Even now, you still do. But let’s be honest, it is in everyone’s best interest that you drive and I don’t. Thank you for making sure I get the best education possible and sacrificing things you wanted to make sure of that. Thank you for always looking out for me, even if I couldn’t see it at the time.

Thank you for always doing my laundry, even now when I’m in college and I could technically do it. Thank you for always watching lifetime movies with me because we both know we’re the only people who actually appreciate them. Thank you for making me delicious, home-cooked meals. I took it for granted before, but now it’s one of the things I look most forward to when I think of coming home and just about the only thing getting me through this next week of finals.

Thank you for teaching me to be a respectful and honest young woman. Thank you for always forcing me to speak Spanish, even when I refused. Thank you for always making sure I know where I come from and that that history never dies. Thank you for for being an amazing mom. I know I don’t say it nearly as much as I should, but I love you. And I do appreciate it.

So I’m sorry for being a pain in the ass. I’m sorry for being the messiest person alive on this planet. I’m sorry for every time I snapped at you because I was stressed or tired. I’m sorry for the times when I didn’t listen to your advice when I should’ve. I’m sorry for correcting your English, even though I only did it out of love. I’m sorry for the times when I worried you, even though I didn’t mean to.

But most of all, thank you. Because despite all of my mistakes and failures, you still love me unconditionally and only want the best for me. So take the day to appreciate you. I know you don’t do that very often, but just try it on for size. Sleep in. Get a massage. Watch movies all day. Do whatever it is you want. Don’t worry about taking care of everyone else. They can wait another day. Just sit back, relax, and know I love you and wish I could be with you on this special day. But remember that I love you to the moon and back, and we'll be reunited next weekend.

Mami, gracias por todo y te quiero mucho.

Love,