Mirror Mirror on the Wall,

I have become my mother after all.

There are countless times in a girl's life when she is told that she looks just like her mother and will eventually become just like her. For years, I denied that I would become my mom. I knew that I would never be able to compare to the amazing woman she was nor would I ever admit to being just like her. Her care, her wisdom, her selflessness, and her ability to be everything at once were intimidating, to say the least.

The moment I knew I become my mother began about a week ago when I was jokingly called "team mom" at practice. Ever since then, I have increasingly become known as "mom" by more than just my team. Although this is a term thrown around jokingly after some motherly action takes place, I began to realize all of the little things that I do that make me like my mom. I have started to notice my desk calendar and how it is organized just like her calendar at home. I have had a new appreciation towards what it means to listen to all sides of the story. I have started to pick up on her cleaning habits that I never fully appreciated. I recognize the importance of using certain laundry detergents and laundry hacks to wipe away dirty cleat and game-day gear odor. I have accepted the fact the our laughs are both obnoxiously loud and identical. I have realized that I look exactly like her and I will never want to deny that fact again.

My mother has taught me everything I know. To this day, we still disagree on certain things and she continuously reminds me that she is always right, but I am perfectly okay with that. After years of disagreeing with my mom for the sake of disagreeing, I now find myself reverberating the wisdom to the people around me. With everything I am beginning to start in life, I continuously find her in everything I do. From cleaning my apartment, to looking after the people I am closest to, and everything in between, I see my mom. Growing up, I knew I could never be like her. Today, I know I am just like her and I have never been more proud.

Thank you, mom.