My mom and I have always been close. In this last year, however, times became a little harder and thus we grew much closer. At my lowest points, I always had my mom. We've always had a special relationship.
From Saturday crepe dates, to shopping sprees and prom dress shopping, my mom has been my buddy for it all. With my first breakup, and my second, my mother stayed with me until I fell asleep and answered every angsty text or sobbing phone call.
While it's inevitable a mom and daughter bond is special, I really doubt many others have what my mother and I have. Many people will say their mom is their best friend, but few will mean it. When I say it, I mean I will truly be missing a part of me in my next adventure as I go to college.
My mother and I have accomplished several Netflix series, watched every Grey's Anatomy episode together, and have intently followed The Voice for many seasons. It is the simple parts in our chaotic relationship that make it so great. I will miss her dearly on Thursday nights when Meredith Grey starts crying over Derek Shepherd.
While our relationship sounds flawless, that surely is not the case. We as people often times clash with those most similar to us. My mom and I fit that cliché to a tee. My brothers and father are the first to laugh when we fight, saying it’s like watching two of the same people argue the exact same way. Despite our fights, they never go unresolved, and we always come out okay. This is another testament to how strong our friendship is.
Although tv shows and breakfast dates will be few and farther apart, I trust my mother will always be my best friend. Not to mention, one of her offices is only ten minutes from campus. But that's beside the point.
Our bond sounds purely amazing at this point, right? There is, however, one major flaw: I have many people to say goodbye to. Tears will be frequent in this countdown to school. August 18th, move in day, is sure will be filled with tears. However it is the goodbye I will say to my mom that will hurt the most. She is my mother and my best friend at the same time. We conquered life together this past year. In tough times dealing with bullies, boys, even stress, my mom was my rock.
We've done it all together. Girls weekends, dinner dates, laughter, tears, feuds, you name it, we've experienced it. We experienced college visits, and then college applications together. We experienced the long and arduous process that was getting into Villanova together. We cried when I got in, and we will cry when we say goodbye.
I say goodbye to what once was my forever friend. I enter a strange environment leaving my best friend at home. The baby of the family, the glue (even if no one else agrees), I know my mom will be lost without me. As if she hasn't cried enough since my eighth grade graduation, she's made me realize what growing up is. Here I am, really grown now, finally saying goodbye to the person I turn to without hesitation (with no worry that she may gossip or turn on me).
It will be okay, but I know the transition will be hard for us both. My mom, losing her daughter and best friend. Me, losing my mother and best friend. It's always been she and I against the world, and I'm seeing now as I get older, it's me against the world, and her there to back me up. I'll always turn to my mom, I'll always know she's there. But I no longer get to psychically have her there at all times. And this is the proof of growth. It is not a goodbye, just a see ya later. And since she is my mom, I know I'll see her later. This is a thank you to my mom. For the memories, sharing a bed with me when I was sad, buying me a way out of school when I was stressed, and taking time out of her day to love me unconditionally.
To my mom, to my best friend, I love you. It's still you and me against the world, we’ll just be conquering it a little differently from now on.
