When I was growing up, my mom was the literal best. She was room mom, team mom, PTA mom, PTA president, and so much more. She balanced my activities, my brother's activities, working, and so much more. She was always a role model, someone to look up to. I would ask her for boy advice, friend advice, and school advice.
The remarkable thing was she always seemed to know exactly what to say. In high school, my mom helped me with college advice and told me some of the most incredible things in terms of how to make my decision.
And then, I went away to school. When I left for college I was terrified to leave my mom (also my dogs, but mostly my mom). But, it turns out I needn't have worried, my mom quickly became so much more to me in college. Instead of calling to ask for advice, I was calling to rant to her, tell her about my fun times with friends, and then of course asking for advice at the end.
My mom quickly became the most important person and my best friend. She was the friend that I could count on to say nothing about what we'd discussed and the person I knew would always pick up my calls. She also became my best friend in what we did and how we acted.
My friends always used to joke, and still do to this day, that we should never go shopping together because it's dangerous. One of the two of us would find something that we in no way needed, and, of course, the other one would encourage her to get it.
Perhaps my favorite memories of my mom and I are at Disney. When we go around Christmas time, the parks are often open late into the night. When this was the case, my mom and I never missed a minute in the park. We would parade through the Magic Kingdom at midnight, Starbucks in hand, excited to ride the rides until the park closed.
If I could share one piece of advice, it would be to call your mom. Call early and call often. Every phone call, regardless of how long, only brought me closer to my mom. And I now can't imagine not calling her about things.
College changed a lot about me, but the one thing it will never change is the pure admiration and appreciation I have for my best friend.
