Mom,
Going to college has changed my perspective on life, because my life has changed. I went from living at home with you, Bennie, the boys and Chloe in a safe neighborhood to living in a dorm with one of my best friends in the middle of a big city. With living on your own comes responsibility, so I'm very thankful that I came into college well-prepared and ready to move into the next phase of my life.
I wouldn't be the person who I am today if it weren't for my you. You played a huge role in helping to prepare me for the day I moved my things into Berry, and you didn't just help me pack; you prepared me for college. That's a big job. I'm not sure how you've managed to take care of seven kids in your life, but you have and you've been a great mom to all of us.
Thank you for teaching me to take responsibility for my actions. This is a big one. I'm basically free down here in Charleston. I can technically do what I want, but actions have consequences, and as you get older, the consequences get bigger, so thank you. Thank you from day one for instilling in to me that everything I do, whether for good or bad, will have repercussions.
Thank you for teaching me to love others. Even though you call me mean all the time (which I can be so it is definitely called for), you've always taught me to be kind to people. From the time I was a little kid, you've told me to treat others as I want to be treated. Being in college, I've realized how important that is, because whenever someone is really sweet to me, it makes my day. I can see people's faces light up when I ask them how their day was or give them a compliment, and it helps to build relationships. You've always been about building relationships, and I hope that I can carry that on as well as you have.
Thank you for being patient with me all of my life. I understand how I was probably a total pain in the butt to raise, because I am so stubborn, but you've always been patient and unrelenting with love, lessons and good advice. Because of this, I am the person that I am today. I know that I'm not perfect by any means, but you've done so much for me in helping to shape me and keep me in check. Somehow you've managed to do that as good as any mom can, and with patience and grace the entire time.
I'm thankful for our relationship, and being in college has made me value it even more now that I don't get to see you quite as much. I hope that we will always remain this close. I love you.
Delayne
