Dear Mom,

Remember all those things growing up you said I'd thank you for later and then I'd laugh or scoff and shake my head and say "yeah, sure..." Well, thank you.

Thank you for taking an endless annoying amount of pictures of us growing up, because I hated it then, but now I can look back and laugh at memories and how dorky all my phases were. I can use embarrassing photos of siblings as blackmail, remember happier and sad times, and relive my best years. Thank you for capturing those moments.

Thank you for grounding me. As much as it sucked, as angry as I got with you, as much as I screamed, who would I be now if I didn't have you there showing me tough love. Thanks to you I have the common sense to respect my managers, pay my bills on time, say please and thank you, and somewhat act my age.

Thank you for not spoiling me, because now I have respect for my property and for others. I appreciate what I own because I know what it's like to work for it. By not handing me everything in life, you taught me how to not be afraid to pursue my dreams and never give up. I don't cry when things don't go my way, I work harder to make sure it does next time.

Thank you for always being supportive. Even when it was something you didn't want me to do, like move away from home, you were the first person in line ready to help me move in. You never tried to talk me out of what I wanted, you just guided me, advised me, and helped me the best you could, and you still do.

Thank you for being my Mom. Thank you for being my support, my bank, my taxi, my counselor, my best friend, my enemy, my teacher, my role model, my nurse, and my everything. I don't know who I'd be if anyone else was my Mom, and I don't particularly care to know, because any other life would be sad.

Thank you for loving me these last 21 years. I love you.

Love,

Your Kids.