Growing up, I often awoke to the sound of my mother’s shoes clicking down the hallway, and the hum of the printer as she prepared for another day of work. As much as I didn’t want to get up, I always knew it was time to start my day. It's memories like this that reaffirm why I feel that my mom is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met.
My mom is a special woman. I know that everyone believes their mother is special, but mine is truly a force to be reckoned with. My mother is one of the strongest women I have ever known and I am constantly amazed by her. I don’t always get the chance to thank her for everything that she does, but I am going to try.
Thank you for teaching me the value of hard work.
Whether it is in academics or in the job industry, you have always pushed me to do my best in all my endeavors and that has had a lasting impact on me. You are an amazing example of a powerful woman, and that has taught me to never let anyone or anything hold me back. Watching you my whole life has given me confidence in who I am and who I am going to become.
I not only thank you for teaching me the value of hard work, but I also thank you for actually doing all of the hard work that you do. Don’t think that it goes unnoticed, because it doesn’t. Every day, I strive to make you proud because you do so much for me. Thank you for devoting your life to me.
Thank you for letting me be myself.
I’ve gone through many phases, and you let me, because you knew I would ultimately come into my own. You have let me grow and have never tried to push me down a specific path. Instead, you have let me discover what I delight in and have celebrated the fact that I am pursuing my passion.
Thank you for letting me make mistakes.
No matter what I have done, I know that you will eventually forgive me and soon enough we will laugh at the memory together. You’ve let me falter and fall down, knowing that I would pick myself back up again because that is the kind of person you have taught me to be.
Thank you for trusting me.
I appreciate the trust you have had in me while growing up and that trust has helped shape me into who I am today. You have given me a long leash throughout my life and it has given me the room to develop and mature.
Thank you for being patient with me.
I know that I can be over dramatic and cranky and sometimes I push you to your limit but we always know when to apologize. We never leave a situation unresolved because we know how important it is to work things out.
Thank you for all the little things that you do. Thank you for all the back scratches, hugs, and for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for every meal we have ever had at Sharp’s, Jalapenos, and Bo Lings. Thank you for creating lasting traditions with me like going to taco Monday, picking out our Christmas tree together, or going to the movies on a chilly fall evening. Thank you for singing “You Are My Sunshine” to me even now, when I am an adult. Thank you for always helping me change my sheets and waking me up in the morning.
I could go on and on listing these little things because they are abundant and plentiful.
Most importantly, thank you for being my best friend. Thank you teaching me that it is okay to be vulnerable. Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on. You have been there through all of the heartache and turmoil I have ever experienced and have been by my side with wise words and gentle guidance. Thank you for always being in my corner, being my cheerleader, and being my compass. Thank you for being my rock, my calm in the storm, and my home. I don’t know what I would do without you, I love you.
