Hey mom, thanks for everything you've ever done for me. You're always going to be my best friend and I couldn't be more grateful to have you in my life. I know we may annoy each other at times, but thanks for being there all the time. I'm working my hardest to keep you proud. Thank you for helping morph me into the strong and independent young lady I have become.

I moved into my freshman year of college yesterday and honestly, you took it better than I thought you would. I'm proud of you! I know this is hard, it's going to be hard for everybody. It's a big adjustment to have to make, I completely understand. Your baby has left the nest and is growing up and your oldest is moved out and living on her own. Remember: you got this. Thank God for smartphones and technology because that's how we're going to be keeping in touch the most while I'm away. Since I'm four hours away, it's not exactly a quick drive to see each other, especially since I don't have my car with me. Thanks for helping me move in on Thursday by the way. Most importantly, thank you for putting together my fan for me since I don't have air conditioning in my dorm hall. It's actually not as hot as I thought it would be, fingers crossed though that we don't get a heat wave or anything any time soon. Also, thanks for hanging up EVERY piece of clothing I brought with me and organizing my desk. Let's see how long I can keep it neat though, it's going to be like a game. You did almost everything honestly, all I really did was the decorations and my bed. I really appreciate it, I do - even though I may not have shown it at the time because I was really stressed. I'm better now, don't worry! Oh, and you're the best for showing me how to use Command Strips, they really do some in handy around the dorm!

Let's take it back a little bit. I danced for seventeen years. First off, thanks for all your money you put into dance for me. Thank you for continuing to put me into an extracurricular activity that I loved so much and learned so much from! You were my taxi driver, or as you liked to call it, my chaperone everywhere I went. You never missed a practice, competition, or recital. I can't thank you enough for that because I know it was a lot and got to be really hectic at times. You were the typical dance mom, always running back and forth and there to help anybody who needed it, not just me or Lynne. Everybody loved you, literally. Pretty sure they liked you more than me at times, especially when food was involved because you would bring us snacks at competitions. Good times.

Thanks for being my biggest motivator in life. Thanks for supporting me through every decision I have and will make in my life - good or bad. Although, you know I'm always going to pick the good choice because I'm an angel child and never make mistakes, said nobody ever. No but seriously, I'm trying my best here. Thanks for being a role model that I could look up to and a mentor that I can go to in a time of need.

What am I going to do without living under the same roof as you while I'm at college? That means I actually have to cook my own food and clean my room without you telling, well forcing, me to. It's going to be hard. I love you very much, you know that. Thanks for being the greatest woman in my life, and of course the coolest. Seriously, I think my friends like you more than they like me. I love you Mama Dukes, or Toni Bologna as your coworkers call you. Thank you for being you.