If you're anything like me, you take your mom for granted every single day. You read and respond to the daily texts and you get easily annoyed when she wants you to stay home and spend time with your family. Instead of appreciating the fact that she loves you and wants to spend time with you, you wish she would just give you your space and let you live your life. With that in mind, here are seven things I wish I would tell my mom.
1. You rock.
You honestly do. I wouldn't have made it this far without your constant love and support. Not only do you rock, but you're also my rock. You're the foundation that built me up to become the person I am today.
2. I'm sorry I didn't realize sooner how smart you are.
You may not know everything there is to know about the world, but you sure as hell know more than I do about a lot of things. Instead of butting heads with you trying to prove you wrong, I should focus more on what you can teach me. I regret how much pain I could have avoided had I listened to you sooner.
3. You are more than just my mom.
Sometimes I forget that you're not just a mom. You're a beautiful woman who has lived and loved and experienced life. You are not just an amazing mother, but you're also an amazing human being. Now that I'm growing up, I'm so excited to be able to appreciate you as a fellow woman and not just as my mom.
4. I don't hate you.
This seems like an obvious statement, but I feel the need to reiterate this. As a teenager, I'm sure you can remember the dramatic outbursts of "hate" and anger. Thinking back on it now, it was mostly because I knew almost instantly when I was wrong and you were right. And that was hard to swallow at my ripe age of fourteen. I have been angry and hostile and outraged, but I have never in my life hated you. As a matter of fact, I have always wanted to be you.
5. I listen to you.
Even when you think I'm drowning you out inside my head with preconceived notions about what I'm already going to do, I am still listening to you. I have heard every word you've said to me in 22 years (take a few of the early years). There is always a part of children that thinks their parents might not know everything. How can we know for sure unless we ignore you completely and learn on our own? Please don't mistake my need for self exploration as not listening to you. I hear you, and it means everything to me that you still give me advice after all those years of turning my head.
6. Thank you for being my best friend and my mom.
Not everyone can say that their mom is also their best friend. A lot of people can't say that, actually. I'm lucky enough to have a mom that I go to for nearly everything. When I want a shopping buddy: mom. When I need to vent: mom. When I feel like the world is crashing down and I need someone to pick me back up: mom. When I need someone to call me out on my BS: mom. I talk to you more times a day than anyone else. I want you to know that I value our relationship over any other.
7. I'm going to miss you.
I am really excited to start my life away from my childhood home. Scared? Very. But incredibly excited. I'm anxious to look at apartments and discuss budgets and bills and I want you there every step of the way, because I'm really going to miss you. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going far. Maybe even a block or two away. But it isn't going to be the same. I'm going to miss the daily walks with the dogs and the Sunday morning debate about what we want for dinner this week. All of the mundane things I take for granted mean the world to me. To all of you readers who are about to leave the family nest and start fresh on your own, please treasure every second you have with your parents. Stay in and watch TV with them, send them a heart emoji once in a while, and please don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you.
