I don't believe in having only one "best friend". It's not a name that I can bestow upon one person. On any given day if you were to ask who my best friend was, I'd tell you it's my brother. My friend from back home. My boyfriend. They are all my "best friends" in their own unique way. There is one best friend I have in particular, however, that is unlike any other.

My relationship with my mother is very special to me. One of the things I miss most while being away from my mom while at school is getting our Dunkin' Dounuts iced coffees (medium, extra cream, no sugar), shopping at Target or getting our nails done, and then going out to lunch. Maybe we'll stop by the gas station for some candy and scratch tickets. And on any weekend that I come home, I can typically count on being treated to a dinner at Olive Garden (with cheesecake to follow), and then we'll go home to watch a movie or one of her favorite paranormal documentary shows. The simplest things that we share together bring us closer in a much deeper way.

When we share these simple times together, we're also sharing anything and everything that's on our minds. My mom is definitely a talker, and the things that we talk about don't really know any limitations. I am comfortable with my mom to the point where I can tell her just about anything, no matter how embarrassing or bad they might seem. Anything you can think of that you'd only share with your best friend, I've probably told my mom.

Although she can behave very goofy at times (and that's a tame way to put it), my mom has the purest heart out of anyone else that I know. She'll strike up random conversations with people in line at the grocery store that will turn into a heart-to-heart. She'll always take a moment to look at the kittens up for adoption at the pet store, reading their back stories and wishing she could take one home. If someone is walking up the street in traffic asking for donations, she'll spare all the change that she has. They're little acts of kindness, but they add up to the point where there's no room left in her heart for judgement. I know I can trust her with anything without the fear of being judged or her being disappointed in me, especially when I've screwed up, because her unconditional love is so strong.

Moms also tend to know you better than you know yourself. My mom knows I'm a worrier, and has this calming, almost magical way of reassuring me and easing my mind whenever I'm stressed out. She'll call me at least once a day while I'm away at school, and although I'll miss them during times when I'm napping, in class, or busy with other activities, her calls are always important to me. Typically she has so many things floating around in her mind at once, she'll call me seconds after hanging up because she forgot to tell me something. Sometimes all I'll have to do is think about my mom, and my phone will start buzzing two seconds later.

When people describe their mom as their best friend, it is often assumed that the mom has no boundaries and should act more like a parent. The special thing about my mom and I is that she treats me like an adult with respect, but also knows when it's time to be a parent. I would never take advantage of the kind of relationship I have with her, and will always treat her and respect her as my mother first.

My relationship with my mom is like no other. She sends me Snapchats of my dog when I miss her, buys me ginger tea when I'm not feeling well, and makes me my favorite frozen pizza for dinner. But she also gives me the best advice I could ever receive, connects to me on a personal level with her own experiences, and leaves me feeling incredibly loved. I may not have one true best friend, but I know I'll always have a best friend in my mom.