Dear Mom,

I know that you have worried everyday about me since before I was even born. You worried about how healthy I would be when I came into the world. You worried about me when I learned to walk. You worried about my my first day of school. You worried about the first time I learned to ride a bike. You worried about how I would handle high school drama. You worried about me getting into the college of my dreams. Then, you worried about me leaving for school.

Going off to college was a time that was full of many emotions, some sad ones, but many were happy ones. The happy experiences like, buying all my bedding from Bed Bath & Beyond, finding the best curtains from Target after being there for 2 hours, and then the process of moving into my new home. Then the sad emotions, saying goodbye to my best friend at the airport, not having dad there for move in, and hugging you goodbye to see you drive away without me in the car too. I knew you were worried the entire time you flew back home, thinking of things we might have forgotten, or just that fact that I wouldn’t see you until November. Once you got home you worried about how sorority recruitment went, and how my first day of classes went. Everyday after you have worried about me and how I’m handling being away from home.

But I hope you know I am doing great— I have made some of my best friends in the few short months that I’ve been here, I’m learning from my mistakes on my own, and I’m growing so much as a person. Of course there are still those nights that I just need to talk to my mom, to vent about a professor that I can’t stand, or talk about the test that I stayed up till 3 am studying for. But, I’ll always want to call you, because I know you worry. It’s your job. God made moms to worry about their kids, it’s one of many ways they show love. I know how much you love me because no matter what time it is you always make sure to call or text to say, ‘I love you’.

So, thank you for worrying, it’s taught me how to care for others, and how to love even more.