Dear Mom,

I love you so freaking much. I don't tell you that as much as I want to, but please do not think otherwise.

I sit here and struggle to write this. I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to write it in a way that is deserving of you reading it. You mean so much to me that simple words in a letter cannot express the magnitude of how much.

First of all, thank you. You do so much, and I promise that has never gone unnoticed. You balance so much in your life - work, relationships, doctor's appointments for yourself and your children - and still make time for us. You make sure that we are all happy and healthy, even if we do not live with you anymore. How do you manage to do all of that and maintain your composure?

I love you.

I admit, there was a period of time in which we didn't speak much. I was a brat and our relationship crumbled. At the time, I felt that we may never be on good terms. We later reconnected and I realized how much I had missed you. I'm sorry for all of that. When I recall those years, I feel so disgusted with myself for who I was and how I treated you. I was young and didn't know just how much you were doing, not just for yourself, but for your kids as well.

I love you.

Honestly, You have become such an empowering role model for me. You are a strong, open-minded, loving, and wonderful woman and mother. If I could be a tenth of the woman you are, I think I would be doing something right in my life. I feel like I am who I am today because I have someone like you to look up to.

I love you.

You are my best friend. It doesn't matter how many disagreements we have or if we get irritated with one another because it is all outweighed by the number of times you have helped me. By the number of times that you have healed me. I cannot count the moments that you have dried my crying eyes or listened to my never-ending rants. I know that I can talk to you about anything and be completely open and vulnerable to you. You make me feel so comfortable with being myself. You distract my busy mind on days when I feel the world crushing me. No amount of thank you's could truly express the gratitude I have for all of that.

I love that I can call you just to hear your voice. I love that you are so supportive of me and the things that I do. I love that we can gossip with each other like you're still a teenager. I love that I can include you in anything without feeling as though you wouldn't understand. Most importantly, I love you.

You just get me.

We joke around and have fun being in the other's company. I say stupid puns and you roll your eyes, but laugh anyway. And though we have so much fun, I also enjoy serious moments. I enjoy the moments where we have real, adult conversations. I like them because you treat me like an adult; you listen to me. You don't belittle me just because I am young. You understand that I am an adult with a mature perspective and that is one of my favorite things.

I love you.

You mean so much more to me than you realize. You know that I love you, but I do not think you know to the extent. I just wanted to write you this letter because you deserve to hear this every once in a while. I am incomprehensibly lucky to have you as my mother. Thank you so very much. I love you.