From the minute you drew your first breath, you were blessed with someone who will stand by your side until the very end: her name is mom. Your mom loves you unconditionally, and makes sure to assert herself early on, as your ultimate best friend. As we grow, it becomes increasingly more important to create new social ties with those around us. We are seen as socially inadequate if our only play-mate is our mom, because mom’s are just so lame right? WRONG! As you mature, and especially once you leave the nest, you realize how good you really had it. You start to realize that your mom has all the best qualities you look for in a best friend. She is actually the perfect template with which you force all your friendships to fit into. Spoiler Alert: no one will ever beat her and here are nine reasons why.

9. Her visits, are the best visits:

When your little birdie wings are finally big enough to carry you out of the nest and off to college, visits from your mom, are like being reunited with your long lost best friend. Plus, there is a bonus, she usually comes bearing gifts, like Advil, groceries, Kleenex and laundry detergent. When these daily life essentials are items that you don’t normally think about, it’s nice to have a best friend who does.

8. She is the best friend to take shopping:

While exploring through racks on racks on racks of clothing, it’s nice when the companion you take to go shopping knows exactly what you like, what you can’t stand, your size and what things will look best on you. The time and effort put into looking for a new outfit is infinitely shorter when your mom is second in command. When you take any other friend shopping, you laugh and have a good time, but end up leaving the mall with half the stores unexplored and an outfit she’ll have to look at anyway. I mean what other friend do you have that will make runs back out to the rack, to grab you a different size or color? I can only think of one.

7. Just think of all the places she’s driven you:

For those of us who were involved in extra curricular activities, think of all the practices and rehearsals your mom has brought you to. How many games she’s driven hours to watch, and how many practices she’s picked you up from. I mean when was the last time your other friends offered to drive you to a practice an hour away, and without asking for some serious gas money.

6.She knows how to read a recipe book:

Maybe some of you out there have friends in the culinary field, however for the vast majority of us, our friends cooking expertise maxes out at putting a cup of easy mac in the microwave and pressing “start”. Basically good cooks make really good friends, making your mom the best one there is.

5. A best friend who gives the best advice:

Your best friend should be someone you can turn to at your worst, knowing they will be able to pick you up and put you back on your feet. Who better to do that than the person who has been at your side since your first steps, first words, and first heartbreak. Your mother will never tire of hearing you cry, or complain when you have something to rant about. She always makes time for you and always has wisdom to give. Having a best friend that has experienced and dealt with the hardships you are currently facing, comes in handy because she can present advice she has likely tested. When you are nervous for a test, date, interview, anything, your mom has the perfect set of words already lined up to restart your confidence and bring a smile back to your face.

4. A healthy dose of nostalgia:

Everyone loves to look back at the memories and laughs they’ve shared with their best friends. Which makes your mom, once again, the perfect candidate for “best-friend”, because she knows more about your life than you can even remember. You can reminisce about the time you ran around the house with nothing but a diaper, and your Sesame Street potty seat on your head. Or the horrible, yet wonderful years she put up with your "oh so endearing" teen angst. One of the best parts of having a best friend is being able to look back on all the noteworthy times you’ve shared, and your mom will never run out of stories to tell.

3. A friend you can learn from:

It’s pretty awesome when a friend can teach you how to do something, you couldn't. A friend your age can teach you how to French braid hair, or how to make a cookie in a cup, but your mom shatters all these minor tricks, because she has taken on the task of teaching you all the things no one else can. She taught you its not expectable to go a week without showering. That chewing with your mouth open will probably not help your popularity at the lunch table. That cuts and scrapes will heal with a band aid, and mean girls aren't worth your time. She also took on the daunting task of getting you through puberty...that's a best friend right there. Without her you'd probably look at the world like "what now?".

2. The friend you call at 3 am:

When you are in a pinch, and really need a friend you can count on, your mom is the best option. No matter how embarrassing your situation is, your mom will be there to get you through it. She is someone you can depend on, whether its for advice or a quick rescue. She’s the best kind of friend because no matter how bad you screw up she literally has to love you. Your mom will not only help you when you ask, but will also always call or text to make sure you are always doing okay. She’s the friend that always checks on how your killer math test went, or how your night out with the girls went. Your mom never sleeps on her duty to help you, nor does she ever surrender her role as your best friend.

1. She is the ultimate role model:

When I was little my dad always told me to make friends with people who inspired me and would make me a better person. People who would set a good example and would help me to strive to be a better person than I was yesterday. I can’t think of anyone pushing me to be better than my mom. Striving and working to be as compassionate, patient and kind as her, causes me to try new activates, join new clubs, meet new people, and overall constantly look for new opportunities. My mom is the kind of friend that inspires. She is the kind of friend that makes you feel worthy of her presence and that of others. Someone who never makes you feel like your just friends because they benefit from being associated with you. Someone who doesn’t over inflate your self-esteem, but definitely aids in its healthy up keeping. I know, I know, this article is getting a little soft, but what friend would you rather keep in your company, than someone who makes your heart smile, just from being around them.

Now I think we can all agree that when we were picking out those dorky heart shaped BFF necklaces at Limited Too, we really should have been giving the other half to our real best friend. Your mom easily trumps all other friendships, and luckily this friendship will last a lifetime.