With Mother’s Day coming up, I wanted to write something about moms. However, we should thank our moms every day for everything they do, so instead, I wanted to write about how awesome it is that I’m the mom of my friend group.

I am the mom of my friend group. There is one in every friend group, and if you can’t figure out which of your friends it is, it’s probably you! This isn’t something to be ashamed of or to take as an insult. Honestly, I love this title because of everything that is implied with it. Think about how awesome your mom or the mother figure in your life is. Think about how special it would be to be just like her. That’s your role with your friends, and it’s a pretty sweet deal.

I don’t think anyone ever “appointed” or called me the mom of our group; it just happened on its own. I’m younger than most of my friend group—which makes it funny that I’m the mom—so I was always the one making sure everyone was good to drive and feeling well after a night together. I’ve always been the designated driver, and I’ve always been the planner. A lot of people would probably roll their eyes at all of those responsibilities, but I don’t mind them at all. What’s so bad about making sure that your friends are safe and happy?

To me, being the mom of the friend group is a privilege. I’m seen as the responsible one, the caring one, and the helpful one. I get to go out of my way to make my friends happy and let everyone have a good time, within reason of course. I get everyone together, and I accommodate everyone’s situations to make sure we can work something out to include as many people as possible. I tell my friends when they’ve had enough to drink, and I ensure that everyone gets home safely. I’m the mom because of how I make people feel and because of how I interact with them. I let every one of my friends know how special they are and that I care about them. I show them that they are important and loved, and I do these things in a number of ways. I’m the mom because I care about my friends as if they were my own family, and there isn’t anything more special than family.

The next time someone calls you the mom of your friend group, smile. Don’t take it as an insult. Thank them for saying that because it means that you showed your friends that you care about them in some way. Don’t let the sarcastic “Okay, Mom!” get you down because it isn’t a negative thing at all! You’re a caring individual who just wants to make sure that your friends are cared for and safe. There’s nothing wrong with that.

To my mom, thank you for being such a great mom to me so that I knew how to be a great “mom” to my friends. I love you.