Most girls dream of their mom being their best friend and having everything in common. Some girls probably even dream of being that mom to their daughter one day. However, I have learned to have a different view on a mother-daughter relationship. My mom and I are pretty opposite from each other. For those of you that can say the same about you and your mom understand that life is a little different when it’s this way. We don’t always see eye to eye with each other and butt heads more than often. My mom is the most merciful person I know. Someone could drop their ice cream cone and she would cry for them. Not really, but you see my point of how much mercy overflows from her. People go to her when they have problems because they know she will sympathize with them. I, on the other hand, am probably one of the least merciful people that you will meet. I don’t mean that I lack in having a heart. I just mean that I struggle connecting on an emotional level with someone when something is wrong. It doesn’t mean that I don’t want to help or don’t feel sorry for them. However, when it comes to issues where there needs to be mercy my mom and I don’t always have an equal balance. My mom also loves hugs and is a very affectionate person. I’m just not a hugger. I know at this point you are thinking I have a black hole for a heart, but I promise I don’t. I am the type that likes to give a hug that lasts long enough for you to know that I care, but not too long that it’s awkward. My mom doesn’t see a five-minute long hug as awkward. It hasn’t always been easy for her to feel how much I love her because I don’t show love in the same ways she does. Another way my mom and I are different, is she can easily put herself in other people’s shoes. If I had a dollar for every time I heard her say, “Katelyn if you would just look at it from a different perspective,” I would be rich. If whatever the situation is isn’t happening to me then why try to imagine it as if it was? That is my view on that subject, but to her, she sees everyone’s point of view. So I guess you could say my mom and I aren’t the typical American dream mother and daughter, but I wouldn’t change one thing about our differences. If we were the same and had everything in common then life would be pretty boring. Our differences are where we find common ground. My mom and I teach each other lessons every day. She challenges me to become more merciful towards people. My mom has taught me how to love people and see them the way she does. Because of the things she has taught me she has made me a better person. Without her, I really might have a black hole for a heart. She is my superhero, but not because we are the same person. She is my superhero because she has taught me how to look at the bright side of life. So to my mom, thank you. Thank you for being who you are and never change.