Mother’s Day is one of those holidays that sneaks up on us, leaving us with far too little time to show our mothers the appreciation they truly deserve.

We quickly forget our mothers are the ones who have tackled hundreds of pounds of laundry, driven countless miles to all of our games, slaved in the kitchen all day to provide us with a good meal and so much more. But our mothers are so much more than just the things they do, we love our mothers because of who they are.

I know it’s cliché, but my mother is truly my greatest role model. She is the most incredible woman I know. She is beautiful, but not flashy. Smart, but not boastful. And most of all, under appreciated.

When people hear the word mother, they immediately jump to the conclusion of a relationship between a woman and her biological daughter. So when people first see me and my mother, they are often confused.

First of all, I can try to explain my feelings a hundred million times down to the smallest detail, but adoption is one of those things people can't truly understand unless they have experienced it firsthand. I know people honestly try their hardest to understand, but both the agony and the privilege of being adopted are indescribable.

Mother’s Day quickly becomes uncomfortable when people utter those five words, “Is that your real mother?” Those five words cut so incredibly deep, they still take my breath away, even at 19 years old. When I was younger, I would simply stare back at them completely unaware as to why they would pose such a question. However, with age comes an awareness that being adopted means you’re going to encounter ignorant comments and blank stares.

Yes, my mother’s fair skin, strawberry blonde hair, and blue eyes stand in stark contrast to my olive skin and dark features. And yes, we aren’t your stereotypical picture of a mother-daughter duo, but I can assure you the bond we share transcends our lack of shared genetics.

For the adopted daughter, Mother’s Day marks a celebration far greater than that of the typical family. This holiday is a day dedicated to ensuring my adoptive mother receives all of the credit she deserves. Adoption is by no means an easy option, as it comes with its handful of emotional and psychological hardships, but in light of those hardships, my adoption has given me even greater admiration for my mother.

Mom, thank you for not taking the conventional route. Thank you for being different from me, but raising me to love the things you love. Thank you for being the mother that my biological mother couldn't be. But most of all, thank you for raising me and loving me the same way you would your own biological daughter. It’s mothers like you that make Mother’s Day a holiday worth celebrating.