Dear Mom,

I want to start by saying I’m sorry for this article, but I’ve run out of ways of trying to get your attention.

Things have changed a lot these last few years; I remember starting freshmen year of high school, and you were always the “cool mom” among my friends. You were my best friend and I told you everything, which was something that so many people my age were jealous of. Yes, you and dad were in the middle of a divorce at the time, but that’s not what hurt our relationship. You did. I don’t know what happened, but somewhere along the line your friends and your meetings became more important than my sister and I.

Your social life always came first and you never came to my swim meets on Friday nights because you had to go out, but we still managed to have a great relationship. What changed? Is it because we don’t live together anymore? We don’t even live 10 minutes apart and I’m always just a phone call away, but even that seems too much for you lately.

For awhile I was constantly trying to make plans with you, which were put off or cancelled because something came up with a friend. Why am I not good enough? How come when my sister and I would call for a ride you couldn’t come get us, but when a friend called, you’d drop everything? Why do our texts and calls always go unanswered, but you sit there on your phone the entire time we’re together?

I’m not sure what happened, why you stopped putting in effort or why you stopped caring, but I’m sorry. I’m sorry that we don’t have the relationship that we once did, but at this point I’m done expecting it.

As your child, I deserve more than one phone call a week, and I deserve to come see you without my father having to say something to you about it. When you want to be the mom you once were, and I know you can be, you know where to find me. I have you as a friend, but I’d rather have you as a mother.

Your little girl