Mom,

I've spent all summer looking forward to going back to school, but since I've been back and live on my own now I have found a new appreciation for you. It's funny how once I had to do everything for myself I began to realize how much you actually do for me. I find myself wondering things like: how my backpack has been sitting in the living room for almost three days, why the kitchen table is never cleared off, and why my room always looks like an F5 tornado struck it. I realized then that it's because you would move my backpack out of the living room, you would clear off the kitchen table, and you would pick up all my clothes off the floor and put them away when I was gone. I was living the luxurious life: no cleaning to do, no bills to pay, no appointments to schedule, and no grocery shopping to do. I must have thought those things just magically happened, but they don't. You did them.

Now that I'm a young adult, I realized just how much you had on your plate and I miss having someone that is always there for me. Growing up, you were always there to support me and you still do now. Every gymnastics meet, softball game in the rain, volleyball game, encouraging me to join things, and supporting my (now five) major changes are just a few examples of how high your level of support was. You did many things for me growing up and I just want to say thank you because I can barely take care of myself and can't imagine how hard it must have been to raise a kid like me.

Next time I see you, even though I don't show it, just know that I appreciate every single thing you've ever done for me. I love you, Mom.

Sincerely,

Your Daughter