Growing up, I'm sure I acted like a typical bratty middle schooler, and into high school, and my mom was always there for me. I've always had a good relationship with my mom, I think you all should know that before I continue. However, somewhere between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college, something changed. I made a new best friend. The most important best friend I will ever have, my mom.

During that summer, I started seeing things through her eyes, I started spending more time with her and I would not change this for the world. I think that summer is the best thing that could have happened for both me and my mom, and our relationship. The wild nights that I "missed," I was able to spend bonding with my mom. This taught me more about myself than any self-help book ever could.

I learned that I am more like my mom than I am not, and I am totally happy with that. My mom is the best person I know, why would I not want to be like her?! I learned those "missed" nights, were just nights I wouldn't think about ever again, but I cherish the nights spent with my mom. Saved by the bell if you ask me.

My mom has always been an inspiration to me. My mom is a teacher, and ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to be a teacher just like my mom. Now, here I am, about to graduate college in a year with a degree in teaching. I have been very lucky to have my mom support me every step of the way. Especially there to listen to me rant about my college classes and tell me everything was going to be okay. I have also been very lucky to have this relationship with my mom, because she was always willing to let me into her classroom and get a glimpse of the teacher life.

Needless to say, I am forever grateful to be so close to my mom. I have learned so much from her, and she deserves the world. She has always been supportive in everything I do. She has been there to take care of me when I was sick, and bring me back up when I was down. She has seen the best in me, when I cannot see it in myself. Better yet, she makes me see the best in myself, and for that I am forever thankful. I do not know what I would do without my mom, and our shopping trips, or sitting in the living room just gabbing. Okay, so I do most of the gabbing, but at least I can admit it, right?

All I am trying to say here is, I love you mom and I know I don't say it enough. After all, moms are the first friend a girls has!