Dear Mom,
As I get older, it becomes more apparent to me that you are everything I needed growing up, and more. You were my full-time mom, a part-time best friend, adversary, role model and teacher. You gave me my brothers and a wonderful extended family that has shaped my life. You work a job that you’re good at, but you hate, just to put food on the table and give my brothers and me anything we ask for. Usually, we don’t deserve it. You deserve more than you have and give all that you’ve got. Despite this, I know I sometimes have really weird ways of showing my appreciation and undying love.
We fight like cats and dogs. You give me an inch and I take a mile, time and time again. You hate my plans, but I follow through on them anyways and you continue to love and support me. You keep giving me inches. And I keep trying my best not to take extra miles. Even though I’m out of the house now, you follow me everywhere. I always think about what you might think. This doesn’t always stop me from doing what you’d rather I didn’t, but who knows, some day it might stop me from making a pretty big mistake. Again.
I know this past year has been hard for you. I wish I could do more to make it better. To repay everything you’ve given me. That’s part of what I work for every day. I miss being at home when I’m at school for weeks on end, I miss you when I can’t just come home and detox about my day with you. It hits me quite often that I’ll never really live with you again, and that our relationship has changed forever, but not completely. And sometimes, late at night, I begin to think about life without you. It’s completely unimaginable. But in the past year you’ve attended funerals of classmates and 2016 has proven that absolutely no one is untouchable.
So, I just needed to remind you how much I love you, especially in the wake of your 40th birthday. You are my rock and my inspiration. We’re both getting older, but I think we’re getting closer. I hope that never changes, no matter how much I pretend I don’t need my mom and no matter how much I ignore your advice (of course, only for you to tell me that you told me so later, as you lift me up and help me get back on my feet). I love you even though you think bison and buffalo are interchangeable and you love me even when I’m an insufferable know-it-all.
Thank you so, so much for supporting me through all of my phases and after all of my many, many mistakes. Thank you for loving me endlessly and unconditionally. Thank you for being my mom. Happy birthday, the best mom ever deserves only the best.
