With Mother's Day just barely behind us, I thought it would be acceptable to write a public thank-you letter to my mother that I'm sure will resonate will a lot of teenage daughters out there.

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being the kindest, most generous person I know. You commit yourself to so many things with us kids, whether it's being the human taxi as you run us to all of our many sports practices, music lessons, and dance classes, or when you're frantically trying to cook dinner while simultaneously attempting to help the elementary schooler with homework, or trying to get the whole family to sit down for a meal together. You do so much to help us stay close as a family, and we would never be able to do it without you. Not only do you help your children whenever we need you, but you help those around you; you're constantly serving in your community, through church and school and your friends. You do everything you possibly can to be there for the people around you, and I have never witnessed a better example of selflessness, and all without a single complaint (except for when I forget to do the dishes).

Thank you for being there for me through everything. Thank you for talking to me when I'm upset and helping me to see the bigger picture when my perspective is the cause of my issues; thank you for talking me through all of my many, many problems that I always seem to have. Thank you for sitting with me in silence when I just need someone to be there with me, and for being my constant shoulder to cry on. Friends have come and gone, but you have stayed by my side through everything, even when you know it won't affect me in the next year, or even in the next day. Thank you for knowing when I just need to sit on the couch, watching "Friends" and eating ice cream out of the tub, and for doing it with me so I'm not alone. Thank you for becoming the first one I text when I'm at school or work and something exciting happens, or something sad. Thank you for always being right there to let me know how proud you are of me, or that everything will be okay when I'm doubting it.

Thank you for never giving up on me and my dreams, and for helping me and encouraging me to reach as high as I can. Too often I see posts on social media from teenagers who talk about how their parents don't encourage their love for art, or writing, or music because it isn't a "realistic dream". Thank you for never laughing at my goals for being a writer, or a musician, and for always answering my silly question of "Do you think I'll be rich and famous someday?" with a true and honest "Yes". Thank you for getting excited for every tiny milestone I reach, and for always being my #1 fan.

Thank you for goofing off with us around the house. I don't think anyone else (although Dad may argue that this is, in fact, him) has made me laugh as hard as you have, and you continuously surprise me with how much your dumb jokes can make my day. Thank you for showing me how to have a good time without being rude, and for showing me how to be a good friend, daughter, and sister.

But most of all, thank you for showing me how to be a mother. Thank you for showing me the best example possible of how to raise my kids, of how to have my family in the future. Thank you for raising me to be respectful of others even when I do not agree with them, and thank you for showing me how to be a kind, honest person through your own example. Thank you for showing me how to serve with a happy heart and how to be there for the people around me. Thank you for showing me how to love unconditionally, both the people around me and myself. Thank you for teaching me how to love the incredible life God gave me.

I love you, Mom. Thank you for being my Mom.