“My mother... She is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her.”

I know that nobody is perfect, but you’re the closest person to it. You’ve been there for me since day one (literally) and you genuinely want what’s best for me. In comparison to all you do for me, I don’t apologize enough for what I do wrong and I don’t thank you enough for all you do right.

I’m sorry for all I’ve done to make you upset, and I’m even more sorry for the times I’ve made you cry. I’m sorry for the temper tantrums, the talking back, the defensiveness, the stubbornness… I’m sorry I never do things when you tell me to do them, and that I put everything off until the last possible second only to ask for your help when I’m pressed for time. I’m sorry for never washing the dishes, for rarely making my bed, and for half-assing all my chores. I’m sorry for not listening when you tell me you have a bad feeling about someone, for hanging out with people you know are bad for me, and for waking you up when I come in late.

But thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to be the person I am today because I know I wouldn’t be me without you. Thank you for having a never-ending amount of forgiveness for me, for always hugging me after a fight, and for always telling me you love me regardless of how mad at me you are. Thank you for always being honest with me, for telling me when I’m wrong, and for always letting me know that I can’t be right all the time.

Thank you for holding me when my world was crumbling. Thank you for letting me cry on your shoulder and soak your shirt with tears, and for rubbing my back and telling me that I’ll always have you.

Thank you showing me the importance of family and for never letting me lose sight of what’s important in life. Thank you for accepting my relationship and my friends (past and present), even the ones that you haven’t been fond of.

Thank you for spending so much time at concerts, fundraisers, and sporting events - time that you probably could’ve spent doing something else but you chose to come support me. Thank you for always being my #1 fan and for always believing in me, even when I didn’t think anyone was on my side. Thank you for always pushing me to be the best version of myself.

Thank you for teaching me how to be a role model, a guardian, and a best friend - because you are all of those things to me. We might want to rip each other’s hair out at times, but I know that at the end of the day, I can curl up next to you and know you’ll never push me away.

You’ve done more for me in my life than I’ve ever deserved, and I’m not sure how I could ever repay you. I know I don’t tell you enough how much you truly mean to me, but I hope you know that I am so grateful to be your daughter. One day I hope I can come close to giving you all you’ve given to me because you deserve the world.

I love you more than words can say, and thank you for loving me.