Every day I thank my lucky stars that I came from the mother that I did. My mom is one of the most important figures in my life, especially now that I’m in college and beginning to take on the real world. I don’t think I would be where I am without what I have learned from her. Momma, although I can’t be home to celebrate this Mother’s Day, this is my gift to you.

Of all the people who have ever taught me anything in my life, my mom is one of the few people whose little lessons have truly stayed with me every day. She has taught me how to take care of myself and how to make do in situations that I’m not sure how to handle. She has made sure that I am prepared to take on anything, even if I don’t think I am ready to. Mom, you may not know it, but you’ve made sure that when the time comes, I can hear your voice in my head telling me what to do, whether or not I like it. Maybe it’s that I need to clean my room or to just breathe and calm down when I’m upset, you’re always in the back of my mind.

I have so many memories with my mom. Some are good, like running errands and singing along with the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" soundtrack or making fun of "The Brady Bunch" on Sunday mornings; some are bad, like getting into very heated arguments with you or telling you to shut up when I was three (although to be fair, I don’t remember that but you have told me about it). All in all, I wouldn’t change any of them. You are an incredible woman and I couldn’t ask for anyone else to call Mom.

Getting older has allowed me to grow closer to my mom and share more with her. When things seem like they’re going entirely downhill, I can call her up wanting to cry and she will listen and offer me solid advice or throw a little shade at the problem that leaves me laughing and feeling ten times better. She is someone who is honest with me regardless if I asked for her to be, and it helps me become a better person in the long run of it all.

Something I know I take for granted from my mom is her patience with me. She has let me know time and time again how stubborn I am and it’s pretty obvious that it gets frustrating. Even when I know she is starting to lose her patience with me, she still makes an effort to try and get her point through to me. Don’t worry mom, I hear you, I just might not want to at the time.

Thank you, Mom, for being who you are. Thank you for all of the support you have given me over the years, and the support I hope you will continue to give me. Thank you for taking care of me my entire life and making sure that I know how to stand on my own in life. I know I am far from knowing everything I need to know, but I know you still have so much to share with me to prepare me for whatever comes my way.

I love you so very, very much.

Happy Mother’s Day!