Mom,
Thank you.
You have always pushed me to do my best. If my best was achieving a D on a math test, you celebrated with me because I did not fail. And when I did fail, you were there to encourage me to try harder. You always tried to convince me that grades did not matter, that my grade point average did not define who I was as a person. While I still struggle with believing that, it is becoming a lot easier.
Our mother-daughter relationship is extremely special to me. Not a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky I am to not only have you as my mother, but as my best friend. Two years ago, when my mental health plummeted, you were there to catch me. You did everything in your power to make sure that I became well again. You may not have understood why I was suffering, but you did understand that the "why" wasn't what was important. You accepted my feelings and assured me that they were valid. In a world where mental illness is taboo, you made me feel normal. And I can't thank you enough.
No matter how stressed I am, I know that our daily phone calls will make me feel better. I can always count on you to be upfront and honest with me. While I may want you to sugarcoat sometimes, you never do. You always say that we don't have the typical mother-daughter relationship. And I am glad we don't. I know I can tell you anything and you won't get mad at me (most of the time). You help me solve almost every problem I cannot solve on my own, not by telling me what to do, but guiding me toward the correct solution.
And last but not least, I want to thank you for being an inspiration. You might forget to buy milk or eggs every now and again, but you never forget about me. I have grown up with an extremely stubborn, funny, and sarcastic mother who doesn't take anyone's shit. And if that isn't a good role model to have, I don't know who is.
None of what I have written even begins to explain how much you mean to me. I would not be the woman that I am today without you. You have always taught me to stand up for myself and to put my feelings first. Because of you, I am not afraid of this world anymore. Because of you, I can stand on my own two feet. I hope I can repay you some day for all you've given me.
I love you.
