Have you stopped today to think about how lucky you are to be where you are? To think about how much your mother loves you? To think about how much support is raining on you from a distance?
I have the proudest honor to reference my mother, the person who has loved me unconditionally since the day that I was born. The one woman who I can count on to come through on anything and everything. The one who was and still is always there when I'm crying out for help.
If I have to be specific, I can list at least 5 reasons why my mother is my biggest inspiration and why she's forever going to be my best role model. I hope someday to be even a hint of the woman that she is and has become.
1. She's kicked cancer's ass!
Photo by Pete Bellis on Unsplash
Since the day that I found out my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in my freshman year of high school, a flood of emotions, confusion, and uncertainty covered me like a blanket. I wasn't sure what to think of the news, nor did I know how to handle it. When I finally got a grip on the situation, I decided that THE best thing that I can do for her is to be there for her in this time of need as well as show her an immense amount of support.
After the discovery of her breast cancer, which she found herself in a self-examination, my mother decided to seek a second opinion. It's a life-saving miracle that she did because she ended up having a double mastectomy instead of a single mastectomy (both of her breasts were removed). Not wanting to let her hair fall out piece by piece during her chemotherapy, my mother decided to chop off the rest of her hair and began to wear wigs.
Lemme tell you, she ROCKED them.
In an attempt to show our support, my stepfather and I also got haircuts. I got a few inches cut off of my hair length, and my stepfather got a buzz cut. It was the most heartbreaking thing to see my own mother break down when having her hair removed. It's something I'll never forget in my lifetime.
After defeating breast cancer and fully recovering with a reconstruction surgery, my mother has never looked better. Healthy, happy, and thriving. I'm so proud of her and hope to have all of the hope that she held onto during a tragic and unfortunate time.
2. She supports me, no matter what.
I'll admit, I've made some decisions in my life that I wish I hadn't… but haven't we all? The point is that no matter what happens, my mother has always made a very obvious and evident effort to show how she'll continue to support me. During times of heartbreak, lost friendships, stress, and worst of all, not knowing where to go with myself, my mother has pulled me through each and every time. I can count on her to be the best advice-giver, even if times have changed since she was my age. She's been there and done that, and is the most reliable person that I know will be 100% honest with me, and won't hide her true remarks. I'd rather hear it straight with no filtration instead of hearing what I want to hear, and for that, I thank her.
3. She's my best friend, ever.
Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash
I've met some amazing people and have some awesome friends at this point in my college career, and in my life in general. One thing I've vowed to myself though is the fact that my mother is the best friend I've ever had and ever will have. No matter what we go through, we always manage to come out on the other side together. I can tell her anything in the whole world and trust that she'll keep it between us. I have to admit that I'm extremely lucky for the relationship and friendship that we have because I realize that not every girl or boy has that type of relationship with their parents, or better yet, their mothers. I'm so blessed and grateful to have it, and wouldn't trade it for anything. Sure, I love my best friends… but they always come after my mother does.
4. I can trust her expertise and knowledge.
My mother has worked so hard to get where she is today. She has a good-paying job with great benefits. I love that she's become so successful all on her own, and I wish upon a star that I can follow in her footsteps. To get where she is today took her a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears. She didn't have as easy of a life as I did growing up in the 70s and 80s; but damnit, she's become a striving go-getter. For that, I applaud and look up to her.
5. I'm her only, so she spoils me.
Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash
At times, I think about how cool my life would be if I had a sibling. On the other hand, I do also think about how tough life would be with a sibling.
In the end, I'm so happy to be my mothers' only child. I get (almost) all of the attention, but when it comes to holidays, birthdays, and celebrations, I always get the best gifts, cards, gestures, and opportunities. By no means is it all about the gifts and the money for me, but the effort, because that's what always counts. She makes sure that I'm overjoyed at every holiday and that I'm happy with what I have and get. To be honest, though, she's a gift herself. If I had to only have her and none of the luxuries that I'm blessed with, I'd be perfectly content. Though I'm 21 years old, she still makes sure to treat me like her baby girl that I'll always be no matter how old I get.
I don't know where I'd be without my mother. Without all of what she's given to me, what she continues to give to me, and what she plans to do for me. I like being surprised, and for the most part, I do get surprised. I'm always anxious to see what will come of her next that I could add to this list.
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