1. Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made.

From losing your perfect body because you fell pregnant with me, to leaving that “Mom’s Night Out” a little early to spend the rest of the night at home with me. From getting grey hair at an early age because I keep you stressed out, to all the sleepless nights I caused by calling you upset over a boy.

Thank you for all the time you’ve sacrificed of your own time to shape me into the woman I am currently becoming today.

2. Thank you for making me work.

Whether it was doing my own laundry, or helping with dinner and doing the dishes afterward, thank you. Because of these “chores”, I had as a child, I know one day I will make an ALMOST perfect wife. You taught me how much hard work is worth in the world today. I may have hated it then, but I am extremely thankful for it today. Because of these building blocks I know I can conquer any job thrown my way.

3. Thank you for not giving me everything I wanted.

The things I thought and sometimes still think I need, are sometimes not necessities. You have given me everything I’ve ever needed and made me work for the things I’ve wanted. Because of that I know how much time goes into earning a paycheck to get what I want and never feel obligated to anything

4. Thank you for pushing me.

If it wasn’t for you pushing me to always be the best I can be, I wouldn’t be alive today. If you wouldn’t have brought me up in a sport centered home, I wouldn’t know the definition of dedication. If you wouldn’t have made me keep my grades up to play the sports I desired, I would have dropped out.

If you wouldn’t have pushed me to make big life-changing decisions, I would still be stuck in a one-stop town with nothing but bad influences surrounding me. You pushed me into a better well-rounded person that is not afraid of anything.

5. Thank you for listening.

From relationships and friendships, school and work problems, or the dreams I have for my life that week, you always listen. Whether it is a five minute conversation or a 5 hour conversation, you have always managed to find the time to sit down and listen.

6. Thank you for showing me what love is.

From relationships to friendships, I know how much time and effort it takes to keep one alive. You have shown me what it means to love and to love hard.

The love you showed my father in hard times even when y’all weren’t together.

The love you show your husband now.

The love you show to strangers.

But most importantly the love you have shown me throughout the years. No matter the mistakes I was making at the time, you loved me through all my hardships and helped shape me into a better woman. You have shown me what it’s worth to love myself and to love others.

You have molded me into the self-loving, goal driven, strong woman I am today. Your love and dedication to our mother-daughter relationship will never go unnoticed.