"18 years have come and gone..."

Well, Momma, the day is finally here. The day I have dreamt about for so many years and the day you have dreaded since the start of my senior year. I know you're happy for me behind your watery eyes and I know you're just as excited as I am to see what opportunities open up for me as I go into this new stage of life called college. But before I go and find myself and what this life has to offer there are some things you should know.

1. I am so proud of you.

I know it's supposed to be the other way around, but between my teen years of thinking I know it all to the boys who have broken my heart you have always been my rock and my supporter through it all. There wasn’t one thing in life that I couldn’t get through because I knew I always had you on my side to help guide and lead me through it. So give yourself a pat on the back mom, you raised an awesome human (aka me).

2. I promise to call at least twice a week.

Between all my classes and my new friends that I will be making my life will get so much busier than what it used to be like in high school. But I promise I will never forget to call at least two times a week, but if I don’t respond to your text immediately or pick up when you call, please don’t ever think I don’t care because I do. But you know just as well as I do that life can get busy but I always mean well.

3. I only pray that I am half the women you are.

Every day I am in awe of you mom, I really am between taking care of everything I need to our family needs you never fail to amaze me. I hope that when I get that point in my life where I am ready to settle down and have a family, I will get to be half of the women you are today.

4. Thank you for raising me right.

Growing up I know I hated the “Be a lady” speeches and I rolled my eyes and complained about how “you don’t know it all” but it turns out you really did know it all. I couldn’t be more thankful for all the lessons you taught me all through my teen years. From how I should always believe in myself and never settle for less to how to be a decent human to other people, I am thankful and will carry these life lessons with me as I grow older.

5. You may think I don’t know about the little things you do for me, but I do, so thank you.

From always finding a way to make sure I got the things I needed for school or a sport I was playing you always made sure it got done. I seriously think it’s a super power or some sort because I do not think I could do the things you have done for me some days. You may not know or don’t think I notice but I do, I notice all the time, so thank you for all of it.

6. You will forever be my best friend.

I’m sure I will meet some amazing girls in college who I will soon call my best friends but nobody in this entire world could ever fill or compare to you. You are my very best friend and you will be forever. Everything I have learned to who I am was shaped and molded by you. You’re my rock, and without you, there isn’t me and I couldn’t be more blessed to have ended up with a mom and a best friend in one person and I am forever grateful to God and you for that.

7. Don’t forget to remember me.

Even though I’m not sure how you could with how much advice I will need to survive my first year on my own. But just in case, please always keep me in mind, I know I am getting older and you have other babies in the house to raise & pass down your lessons too. But please never forget our daily jam out sessions or the afternoons that were spent window shopping and coffee tasting. I may be off on my own now but I will always need my momma at the end of the day.

xo.